| Apr 18 @ 5:55 AM |
The Blood Covenant
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bevrice
Posts: 11,144
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God came in the flesh to mankind and shed HIS OWN blood as a covenant promise to us. The life is in the blood, a blood covenant is the most powerful and binding covenant of all covenants.
http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=4089
In the Old Testament a lamb or bullock was slain as a blood covering for sins, it had to be without blemish. Jesus was pure and without sin, a condition that we, as mere humans could never attain. He did it for us. Sin separated God and man, His shedding of blood reconciled man with God.
So, what is the basic meaning behind this Blood Covenant? Simply put it means that two covenant individuals share such a close relationship with each other that all they have or possess in this life is available to each upon demand. For example say that Joe and Sam have entered into a Blood Covenant with each other. What belongs to Joe also belongs to Sam and what belongs to Sam also belongs to Joe. Say Joe has a short payday, but has a pressing debt due that he cannot pay. He simply goes to Sam and says, "Sam, give me your checkbook, I'm in dire need of $500". Sam is obligated, by the Blood Covenant between them, to hand his checkbook to Joe so that Joe can meet his debt obligation. This sharing of the personal properties of both Joe and Sam extend to everything either possesses, including wives. For a Blood Covenant individual to refuse to meet the needs of his covenant partner means that he broke the blood covenant between them and this means that he will die a most horrible death as well as the rest of his family, usually at the hand of the individual he so severely mistreated. You can understand then, the motive that causes these two blood covenant individuals to share all they possess with each other whenever called upon. To refuse was a certain death sentence as well as probable death to his family. Perhaps now the times in the Old Testament where God seemed to wipe out His chosen can be better understood. He always said, before the drastic action took place, that they had broken the Covenant with Him. But also God always left a remnant behind so He could reestablish His Covenant with them.
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| Apr 18 @ 6:01 AM |
The Blood Covenant |
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bevrice
Posts: 11,144
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The Eternal Blood Covenant
Every covenant sealed by man was always grounded in the agreement of two covenant parties. They pondered about the cost / benefit factor and vowed loyalty to each other for consensual benefit.
Whereas God chose a different way to show us HIS way to the ultimate covenant:
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
(John 15:13)
In this scripture Jesus says that HE gave the ultimate sign of HIS love as HE was slaughtered before a covenant partner was there.
This death of Jesus Christ isn’t just the atonement of our sins alone. It is the ultimate covenant, the most magnificent covenant ever been made available to man.
No other covenant has had such dramatic consequences. No other covenant has cost such a high price.
In Matthew 26, 26-29 we read the following words:
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom.
Jesus speaks here about “The blood of the covenant”. This is not just some other form of a covenant. Rather it is the most high covenant available. We are talking here about a blood covenant backed up by God himself! This covenant brings man into communion and unity with God. In this covenant we become partakers of God’s character.
That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
(John 17:21-22)
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
(1.John 3:2)
These scripture show us the mind-boggling dimensions of this new covenant. This covenant goes beyond the grasp of our human imagination.
But just as it was with Abraham this covenant has a condition we must fulfil. With Abraham it was the circumcision God was demanding from him and his descendants. The ultimate covenant, the New Covenant, has a condition too. Like circumcision it may involve blood, even the cutting off and death of our flesh-life. Our Apostle Paul speaks of this as a circumcision of the heart. (Rom.2:29) We are not speaking here about our physical death, although that does happen to God’s witnesses. No, this death is meant for our dreams, desires and the ruling, (or mis-ruling), of our life by our own fleshly desires. Everything that resists this total, overall surrender to God’s hand has to die. Jesus says:
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
(Matthew 16, 25)
Paul is expressing it the following way:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.
(Romans 6:3-5)
Jesus says:
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
(John 12:24-26)
The New Covenant has its price. And yes I realize that this price is hardly spoken about in today’s wealthy Christendom. Jesus is the One who saves and heals and performs miracles this is true. But today a watered-down version of Jesus is preached. He is portrayed as some sort of generous doting super-wealthy merchant who just stands there and hands out blessings free for the asking.
But the story is only half told. We are the agents of the Great King. The covenant conditions required to flow in God’s anointing are there. But they have been hidden from view. These conditions are deliberately withheld from most believers for reasons of keeping Christianity easy for half-committed people to enter in. Maintaining popularity and “customer satisfaction” is the thing. The main goal in the post-modern merchant church is to make the narrow way the broadway. This is done to keep up the numbers on church rolls
and raise the Christian television ratings.
In spite of this ignorance and our lack of good performance the covenant God has given us is still valid. But all the wonderful promises tied to this covenant cannot be activated if we do not meet the conditions.
God’s word gives us clear vision concerning the consequences we can to expect should we misrepresent Him:
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| Apr 18 @ 6:06 AM |
The Blood Covenant
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bevrice
Posts: 11,144
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While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom.
Jesus speaks here about “The blood of the covenant”. This is not just some other form of a covenant. Rather it is the most high covenant available. We are talking here about a blood covenant backed up by God himself! This covenant brings man into communion and unity with God. In this covenant we become partakers of God’s character.
That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
(John 17:21-22)
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
(1.John 3:2)
These scripture show us the mind-boggling dimensions of this new covenant. This covenant goes beyond the grasp of our human imagination.
But just as it was with Abraham this covenant has a condition we must fulfil. With Abraham it was the circumcision God was demanding from him and his descendants. The ultimate covenant, the New Covenant, has a condition too. Like circumcision it may involve blood, even the cutting off and death of our flesh-life. Our Apostle Paul speaks of this as a circumcision of the heart. (Rom.2:29) We are not speaking here about our physical death, although that does happen to God’s witnesses. No, this death is meant for our dreams, desires and the ruling, (or mis-ruling), of our life by our own fleshly desires. Everything that resists this total, overall surrender to God’s hand has to die. Jesus says:
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
(Matthew 16, 25)
Paul is expressing it the following way:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.
(Romans 6:3-5)
Jesus says:
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
(John 12:24-26)
The New Covenant has its price. And yes I realize that this price is hardly spoken about in today’s wealthy Christendom. Jesus is the One who saves and heals and performs miracles this is true. But today a watered-down version of Jesus is preached. He is portrayed as some sort of generous doting super-wealthy merchant who just stands there and hands out blessings free for the asking.
But the story is only half told. We are the agents of the Great King. The covenant conditions required to flow in God’s anointing are there. But they have been hidden from view. These conditions are deliberately withheld from most believers for reasons of keeping Christianity easy for half-committed people to enter in. Maintaining popularity and “customer satisfaction” is the thing. The main goal in the post-modern merchant church is to make the narrow way the broadway. This is done to keep up the numbers on church rolls
and raise the Christian television ratings.
In spite of this ignorance and our lack of good performance the covenant God has given us is still valid. But all the wonderful promises tied to this covenant cannot be activated if we do not meet the conditions.
God’s word gives us clear vision concerning the consequences we can to expect should we misrepresent Him:
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (have died).
(1. Corinthians 11:27-30)
Let us remember God’s covenant with Abraham. There God commanded that everyone trespassing against this covenant should be annihilated.
Our New Covenant through Jesus Christ has awful consequences as well for those who misrepresent him.
[Edited on 4/18/2008 6:15 AM]
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| Apr 18 @ 6:11 AM |
The Blood Covenant |
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bevrice
Posts: 11,144
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Similarly the Lord’s Supper is not just a church ritual. No, it is a holy covenant with our God. Death and sickness, unnecessary pain and sorrow, spiritual ineffectiveness and paralysis are the consequences for those who are not willing to fulfil our covenant part.
No amount of church showmanship or clever religious marketing can help us here.
The Lord’s Supper is a blood covenant ritual, a holy act. Only those who are willing to lay themselves on the altar and die to themselves should partake.
If we are unwilling to do this we should not be taking communion at all.
Right now many readers will think, “Nobody has ever told me this!”
Let us pause and be silent for a moment. Ask God for a revelation of HIS will deep inside of you. It is of crucial importance that we stop painting our own human pictures of God. We have to accept HIM as HE is.
The highest and most glorious promises have been given to us. But where can you find them in the western churches today? Where are the believers displaying the glory of the LORD? Why do we see spiritual sickness and death everywhere?
Brothers and sisters it is time to change the direction of our lives. It is time for us to flip the steering wheel and to turn around and go in a new direction. But for this we need a clear vision of where we are spiritually right now:
And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
"These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him (covenant ritual - confirming the coveneant), and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
(Revelation 3, 14-22)
God is waiting for you. He awaits your return to HIS covenant. He has fulfilled HIS part 2000 years ago. HIS covenant stands unshakable. Now HE is calling you. Everyone is called to experience the benefits and riches of this covenant. And everyone who is willing to pay the price will enter into this glorious destiny. That price is the death of our own self life, our own fleshly desires, (the id), and our own ego.
http://www.seven--stars.de/en/articles/mr_3e.htm
[Edited on 4/18/2008 6:20 AM]
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| Apr 18 @ 7:52 AM |
The Blood Covenant
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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In the Old Testament a lamb or bullock was slain as a blood covering for sins, it had to be without blemish. Jesus was pure and without sin, a condition that we, as mere humans could never attain. He did it for us. Sin separated God and man, His shedding of blood reconciled man with God. To read even further beyond this is a waste of time unless you're into reading macabre mystery novels. This kind of religious garbage that enjoys death and suffering can only twist and distort minds into mush.. Psychopaths invented this religion. They were ignorant folk living in a desert and now there are ignorant folk living in redneck small towns and elsewhere like Canada and perpetuating insanity.
[Edited on 4/18/2008 8:06 AM]
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| Apr 18 @ 7:59 AM |
The Blood Covenant |
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LanceVarden7
Posts: 835
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Is anyone going to actually read all of that?
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| Apr 18 @ 8:17 AM |
The Blood Covenant
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yashaenka
Posts: 4,639
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Not I said the blind man who could see better without eyes!
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| Apr 18 @ 8:19 AM |
The Blood Covenant |
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j_goose
Posts: 1,952
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Is anyone going to actually read all of that?
THAT was farking funny, lance.
Sometimes these religion threads are more comical than the sex threads!
Ok gotta go and kill a fattened calf. 
Edit....
What exactly makes this a hot topic?
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| Apr 18 @ 8:22 AM |
The Blood Covenant
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12knots
Posts: 6,400
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Is anyone going to actually read all of that?
Hell no!
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| Apr 18 @ 8:49 AM |
The Blood Covenant |
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bevrice
Posts: 11,144
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Everyone who wonders what God's covenant with Christians is all about, or doubts it, should read it.
Anyone who thinks it is inhuman, macabre should read it.
Most Christians should read it so they will realize the power in that covenant.
This is also for those of you who think that God is universal.
This for those of you who think you can have God without Jesus.
It is an AWESOME covnenant.
It is also an EASY read, quit having a lazy mind.
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| Apr 18 @ 8:53 AM |
The Blood Covenant
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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Yeah, just another garbage post...
Sometimes these religion threads are more comical than the sex threads! But you'll find some of the same people in there too..
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| Apr 18 @ 9:00 AM |
The Blood Covenant |
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bevrice
Posts: 11,144
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Well, hammer, until you read and understand that, you should retire from coming against Christianity, because you really don't understand it.
Not a single one of you can come against Christianity until you understand what it is all about. So, if you don't read it, you should just hold your tongues.
[Edited on 4/18/2008 9:02 AM]
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| Apr 18 @ 9:02 AM |
The Blood Covenant
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j_goose
Posts: 1,952
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I read it. And it loses validity as soon as scripture is quoted. Sorry, still quotes written by man, not God.
And any God that places conditions on his loving you or not is an a$$hole.
[Edited on 4/18/2008 9:03 AM]
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| Apr 18 @ 9:02 AM |
The Blood Covenant |
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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I'm a speed reader. I avoid infecting my mind with garbage such as your posts. I've read what I needed to know its trash..
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| Apr 18 @ 9:06 AM |
The Blood Covenant
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yashaenka
Posts: 4,639
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Bev, who says you understand any of it, You? Who made you the interpreter of any messages that are unverifiable.
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| Apr 18 @ 9:09 AM |
The Blood Covenant |
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LanceVarden7
Posts: 835
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Well, hammer, until you read and understand that, you should retire from coming against Christianity, because you really don't understand it. Ok, Hammer you have gotten your orders. 
Not a single one of you can come against Christianity until you understand what it is all about. I think they are more against you and the way you treat them, then Christianity. You seem to have a problem equating yourself to Christ.
So, if you don't read it, you should just hold your tongues. bev, people have been calling for you to do that for a long time.
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| Apr 18 @ 9:13 AM |
The Blood Covenant
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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Ok, Hammer you have gotten your orders.
I know. She thinks I'm a fish and she baits these hooks hoping I'll take a bite. She's really good at bating. She's become a master at bating...
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| Apr 18 @ 9:13 AM |
The Blood Covenant |
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bevrice
Posts: 11,144
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I understand every bit of it, yash. It is not me, but the Holy Spirit who instructs and leads me into the truth.
You want to tell me what scriptures I didn't verify with the Bible?
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| Apr 18 @ 9:15 AM |
The Blood Covenant
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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but the Holy Spirit who instructs and leads me into the truth.
You're being lead around by an invisible force? Voice here, a push there.. And you say you have nothing wrong with you? 
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| Apr 18 @ 9:16 AM |
The Blood Covenant |
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yashaenka
Posts: 4,639
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GIGO from an unverifiable source that is real convoluted logic!
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