Scripture Reference:
Hebrews 10:9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second.
* note: the content of the following teaching is not my own, it is taken from excellent teaching by Gavin Porter from a series called God's Vision God's Mission. You can access the full teaching on YouTube by following this link: It is finished!
Reading Guide for Mom and Dad:
The first that He took away - He took away the First Covenant, which is the OLD Covenant. So that He can establish the Second Covenant, which is the NEW Covenant. These are both marriage Covenants.
Exodus 19:1-6
In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles wings and brought you to Myself. Now, therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar/special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.
So God says if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant you will be my peculiar treasure (King James translation). The word "peculiar treasure" is a word that a husband would use for his bride. His peculiar or special treasure. The marriage that God makes, the Old Covenant, is given to them in the form of commandments. The ten commandments are almost like the marriage vows which they had to repeat.
God said to them "if you will hear My voice, and obey my covenant(the marriage vows), then you will be a people above the nations, a royal priesthood."
Romans 7:1-4 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another - to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
This is a picture of Israel. Israel is bound by the Law in a marriage contract. Israel is God's wife. The only way that Israel can be freed from this covenant is if her Husband dies. So God becomes a man and dies on the cross. As God dies on the cross, Israel is released from the marriage covenant. The Law, the marriage covenant, comes to an end at the cross.
Galatians 3:19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
The Law is there till the Seed has come to whom the promise was made.
Israel was bound in this marriage covenant until God becomes Man and dies. Then Jesus rises from the dead and Israel together with the Gentiles can now be part of a New Marriage Covenant, the New Covenant.
This new Marriage covenant is a marriage in community of property. So whatever belongs to Christ now belongs to the Bride, to us. Whatever belongs to us now belongs to Him. Jesus is the Heir of all things and because we are now joined together, we become one with Him in marriage, we now become co-heirs of all things. Now after the cross, there is an inheritance!
All these promises come together at the cross so that we can see WHO we are, WHERE we are, and WHAT we have in Christ.
Conversation Starters with the little ones:
Explain to them how a marriage contract is signed at the wedding and that when you marry in community of property everything that the husband owns now becomes his bride's and vice versa.
This new Marriage covenant is a marriage in community of property. So whatever belongs to Christ now belongs to the Bride, to us. Whatever belongs to us now belongs to Him. Jesus is the Heir of all things and because we are now joined together, we become one with Him in marriage, we now become co-heirs of all things. Now after the cross, there is an inheritance! We will look at this more in the next few lessons.
Teach them to Rule and Multiply:
Look at this Coke Commercial with them. Talk about the Law and God's Love. How can we show someone that Jesus loves them? What is sacrificial love? What can we do today to love someone?
Give your children some time alone to hear God's Voice. This encourages them to trust the Holy Spirit and hear His Voice themselves. Give them 5 to 10 minutes to listen to the Holy Spirit. Let them share what they experienced in their quiet time with God. Whom did they think about most? Is there something they can do to help this person experience God's love? It can be as simple as a phone call, a prayer, or a gift. Help them to do what is in their hearts. Divan and Mia served us dinner. They were the cutest little waiters!
Kettle Prayer suggestions:
Lord Jesus, change our hearts and renew our understanding. May the inheritance that You made available for us, flow in my children's lives. Amen
You are welcome to download this visual aid for your own personal use:
I've included this resource for older children (ages 13 years and up):
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