The Terms I Commanded

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. Tell them that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the man who does not obey the terms of this covenant— the terms I commanded your forefathers when I brought them out of Egypt.'” (Jeremiah 11:1–4, NIV 1984).

My Advice – “The terms of this covenant.” Yes, there were terms. “Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your forefathers.” (Jeremiah 11:4–5, NIV 1984). If people then, and us now, want a relationship (His people, our God) with God we must “obey [Him] and do everything He command[s].”

Then, it was the divine Law. Not just bits and pieces. Not just the mortal, and they get a pass on the venial. Everything! James, in his Epistle stated it this way. “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (James 2:10, NIV 1984). A heavy burden. But this was not just any covenant. It was a covenant with a Holy, just and righteous God. Creator of all there is, except disobedience. He would never disobey (break) His promise to us, but He would expect the same from us. Individuals do not get to pick and choose which provisions of a contract they must abide by. It’s all or default. If default the other party, in this case God, is absolved from fulfilling their obligations.

The burden was too high. Mankind was unable meet all the terms, all the time. Even worse, mankind would never be able to make amends. Worse yet still, God was under no obligation to make amends for us. He could not “bend” the rules and still be Holy, just, and righteous. So, what to do? He took on an obligation that was not His. Why? Because in addition to being Holy, just, and righteous, He is also a God of love and grace, who never stopped yearning for that relationship with His prized creation.

So, there is a new covenant. New to us, but never new to Him. He knew what mankind would do (break the old covenant), and what He would do in response (make a new covenant). Not out of obligation. Out of love. A covenant with only one condition on our part. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31, NIV 1984).

My Advice – His covenant, His terms. “Sign” the “contract.” “To all who [receive] Him, to those who [believe] in His name, he [gives] the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12, NIV 1984). There is no other offer.