For Judah, under the Old Covenant, restoring your fortune before your eyes, meant being returned from exile and repossessing their land. But, as we have seen, the Old Covenant was just a picture, a foretaste, a shadow, a placeholder, of the true restoration of fortunes, Promised in the New Covenant. The shadows of the Old Covenant, such as the sacrificial lamb, are finally and fully fulfilled in Christ, the true Lamb of God. The true Lamb was slain to cover the sins, not only of Judah, but to cover the sins of the world, making it possible for the nations to come to the light of Christ’s church.
The Church is God’s Plan A and there is no Plan B… Christ’s first words in the Gospels were straightforward, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Matthew 3:2. – John Stonestreet
Christ fulfilled all of the conditions of the Covenant of the Promise; the Promise made to our first parents, the Promise that was carefully unfolded throughout the pages of Scripture.
- Christ identified Himself as Sovereign: I am the way the truth and the life. John 14:6
- Christ recounted the mighty deeds that He had done throughout history on behalf of His people. Because I live you will live also. John 14:19
- Christ gave laws by which mankind could live productive and joyful lives. If you love me you will keep my commandments. John 14:15
- His people took an oath agreeing to both blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13
- God promised to be with and save the future generations of His faithful Covenant children. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39
Although many don’t realize it, the Church re-enacts this Covenant ceremony in their weekly worship.
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
Compare Christ’s statement to the points of the Covenant:
- Sovereign: The Lord Jesus
- Mighty Deeds: His body was broken for us
- Law: Do this in remembrance
- Blessing/Curse: Eat with discernment or face judgment
- Future: Until He comes
Since the creation God has been working to create a people for Himself, a people who would be identified as His people in the midst of the nations; who would walk in obedience before Him; through whom He would display His glory to the nations; and by whom He would bless all the families of the earth. – T.M. Moore
God desires to fill the earth with men and women who will pursue and glorify Him. However, man has always failed to be faithful to this task. We cannot please God. However, as we have seen again and again through the Scripture, God intervenes and establishes His Covenants of the Promise to create a people for Himself.
God remains faithful even though we are unfaithful. Adam sinned, yet God Promised to crush evil and redeem man. Noah’s generation rejected God yet God Promised to preserve the earth. Abraham worshiped idols yet God Promised to bless all the nations through him. Israel could not be faithful to the law revealed to Moses yet God established them as a nation of priests. David sinned against God yet God Promised a Kingdom that would endure forever. Zephaniah confronts the people with the consequences of their disobedience, The Day of the Lord’s judgment, yet God Promised that the nations will be converted.
The people could never keep the Old Covenant, yet with Christ, God has seen to it, through the New Covenant, that man is no longer in that position. But understand, the New Covenant was not meant to replace the Old Covenant, rather the New Covenant completed the Old Covenant. In the New Covenant we find the final fulfillment of the Promise.
The New Covenant is the same as the Old however the difference is that God has, through Christ, insured that the Covenant will be kept. Through Christ we have the law written on our hearts. We have the Spirit living in our hearts. God is with us to teach us of our sin and to shepherd us to Christ. And finally, because of the death of Christ, God remembers our sins no more. Having given us all this, we are now freed from the slavery of sin and enabled to fulfill God’s purpose for His creation; bringing the nations into the Kingdom.
Though these truths are being forgotten by today’s shallow churches as they strive for relevance in a secular world, listen to our forefathers in the faith as they describe the Covenant.
Christ by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified, and did make a proper, real and full satisfaction to His Father’s Justice in their behalf… God did from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect; Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification… God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified; and although they can never fall from the state of justification, yet may by their sins fall under God’s fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance restored to them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their repentance… The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all respects, one and the same justification of believers under the New Testament. – Westminster Confession of Faith, Justification XI
They who are effectually called and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them, are farther Sanctified really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. – Westminster Confession of Faith, Sanctification XIII
Read again the promise made through the Prophet Isaiah:
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. Isaiah 60:1-5
Or as Zephaniah so eloquently put it:
Zephaniah 3:20 “At that time I will bring you in, Even at the time when I gather you together; Indeed, I will give you renown and praise Among all the peoples of the earth, When I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” Says the Lord.
The Promise made of Adam’s Son,
Has had revealed its meaning.
The Light of Christ; salvations’ come.
The dark of night is fleeting.
The Covenant of the One,
Into the earth is streaming.
The weak, the lost, the blind, the dumb,
Awaken from their sleeping.
The scattered nations one become.
The enlightened world is seeing,
Hollow pursuits and lies undone.
They never could bring healing.
All of Satan’s schemes succumb.
The captives, Christ is freeing;
Once under the deceiver’s thumb,
Now to God are pleasing.
Hear as the heavenly chorus drums.
God Rejoices with us singing!
Return to Zephaniah, Table of Contents.