When the OT and NT authors wrote these passages, they were very familiar with the custom of cutting covenant. They understood the solemn nature and the profound symbolism that was involved when one cut covenant. Until we understand covenant historically and are familiar with the definitions concerning covenant, we will never fully fathom the truths that are contained in the New Covenant which we have entered by grace through faith.

This lesson will focus on looking at an OT covenant custom and comparing it with NT Scripture to give us some insights regarding the "spiritual transaction" that took place when we became a believer and enter into the New Covenant.

COVENANT:
THE BASIC MEANING

Below is a short definition of the word "Covenant". What are the basic principles associated with covenant as described in the following definition of the Hebrew word for covenant (berit/berith/beriyth -- see word study)?

covenant (ASV and RSV); between nations: a treaty, alliance of friendship; between individuals: a pledge or agreement; with obligation between a monarch and subjects: a constitution; between God and man: a covenant accompanied by signs, sacrifices, and a solemn oath that sealed the relationship with promises of blessing for keeping the covenant and curses for breaking it. The action involving covenant making employs the idiom to cut a covenant (Ge 15:18, etc.), that is making a bloody sacrifice as part of the covenant ritual. (Harris, R L, Archer, G L & Waltke, B K Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Moody Press or  Logos or Wordsearch) (Bolding added)

From this definition, how serious is the concept of covenant (the cutting of covenant)?

Read 1Samuel 17:58, 18:1-5 (All Scriptures from NASB77 unless noted)

1Sa 17:58 And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."
1Sa 18:1 Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David (NIV = "became one in spirit", NET = "became bound together in friendship"), and Jonathan loved him as himself.
2 And Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house.
3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

QUESTIONS ON 1 Samuel 18:1-5:

Who are the participants?

What are Jonathan and David doing? Who initiated?

How solemn, binding and in dissoluble is this new relationship they are undertaking?

What did Jonathan do to reflect his new relationship with David (1Sa 18:4)?

From what we have studied what was usually the basis of or reason for covenants between men? Fear

How does that contrast with the motive for the covenant Jonathan cut with David?

Can you see how the covenant in 1Samuel is on a "higher plane" then the covenants between Abimelech and Abraham (and Isaac) and between Jacob and Laban?

BACKGROUND: Let's discuss briefly the significance of Jonathan, the crown prince, cutting covenant with David and giving him his royal robe, his sword, his bow and his belt. What would David be putting on? The robe that identified Jonathan and so in a symbolic way David was "putting on Jonathan".

What does that signify? The idea is that in covenant the two parties become bound together and so become one (eg., Ge 2:24 where a man leaves and cleaves - they become what? = one flesh in the covenant of marriage; consider also the phrase "soul...knit...to the soul of David" which also supports the idea that the two become one - eg, "knit" is used in Ge 44:30 "the lad is not with us, since his (Jacob's) life is bound up (knit) in the lad's life [referring to Jacob's youngest son]"). Stated another way the giving of the robe signifies a total identification of one with the other (consider the phrase Jonathan "loved him as himself" - 1Sa 18:1).

So when people saw David wearing this royal robe, who in one sense would they be seeing? Now think about the context - What was Jonathan? A royal prince theoretically waiting to be crowned the king of Israel after his father Saul passed on. So when Jonathan gave David his royal robe, what was he doing in terms of his rights? Before we answer that question, don't forget that most people today do not fully comprehend the full meaning of the word covenant -- but in the ancient world, a covenant was the closest, holiest, most solemn, most binding and most inviolable agreement that could be conceived between two parties. So Jonathan initiated the covenant with David with full realization and understanding of the serious binding nature of what he was doing. And when Jonathan gave David his royal robe, he was surrendering or yielding his rights (including his right to the throne - e.g., see Jonathan's appeal to David who he knew would be the next king - 1Sa 20:13, 14, 15). In cutting this covenant with David, the two became inseparably bound together -- as subsequent studies of their relationship will attest, Jonathan's relationship with and loyalty to David superseded his ties to his father King Saul, his selfish desires, his personal ambitions for power, etc. Such was the power of an accurate understanding of covenant to Jonathan clearly a man of impeccable integrity.

THE NEW COVENANT
CUT BY CHRIST

Now carrying this Old Testament analogy forward to the New Covenant, when a sinner receives Christ as Lord and Savior by grace through faith, they enter into a holy, solemn, binding covenant with Jesus Christ and symbolically "put on Christ's robe" ("put on Christ"). Given our understanding of the nature of the covenant between Jonathan and David, now we want to examine some NT Scriptures that will help us understand some of the aspects of the spiritual "transaction" that took place with when we entered the New Covenant which He initiated and inaugurated with His precious blood. What happens to our identity? What about our rights? What about our responsibilities in the New Covenant?

It it is true that we have put on Christ's "robe" (of righteousness), the question we need to answer now is -- Do we have any covenant responsibility? In other words, what is our identity now? How should impact the choices we make...or should it have any impact at all?

First, from what we have seen in the covenant that Jonathan initiated and cut with David, what can we say about all those who "repent and believe in the Gospel" (to use Jesus' words in Mark 1:15)? What happens to two parties in covenant - what do the two become? What about our identity? What about our rights?

Let's look at what the following passages teach about entering the New Covenant and "putting on Christ's robe".

What was our spiritual position and our destiny before we entered the New Covenant? Look at 1Cor 15:22

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive."

So before we entered the New Covenant we were all in Adam and destined for eternal death and separation from God. There is no middle ground.

Now how does Isaiah describe our "robe" while we were in Adam?

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment (Isa 64:6a)

Our "robe", even our very best works, was still like a "filthy garment" in the eyes of the Holy One.

What does 2 Cor 5:21 teach about the royal robe that Christ provided for us when He cut covenant?

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

How would a person be transferred from "in Adam" to "in Christ"? To help answer this question, what contrasts do you see in Col 1:12, 13 and what two "spiritual transactions" occurred in this passage (compare Ep 2:8, 9 and Acts 26:16, 17,18)? How are the two kingdoms described? Who are the "kings" of those two kingdoms (cp Col 1:13 in contrast to Acts 26:18, 1Jn 5:19, Lk 4:6, Ep 2:1,2)?

Now when God looks at us, what garment does He see? (cp Isaiah 61:10, Job 29:14 remembering that Job was an OT saint who was righteous, Job 1:1)

Galatians 3:26-29

Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Explanatory Note: Baptized in this context (Galatians 3) does not refer to literal "water baptism" which most of us have experienced after we became believers (if you have not, you need to consider being baptized as a public proclamation of your New Life in Christ -- see Jesus' charge in Mt 28:18, 19, 20). In Galatians 3 baptized carries its figurative meaning -- Greek expert Kenneth Wuest says that figuratively to baptize means to place someone "into a new environment or into union with something else so as to alter its condition or its relationship to its previous environment or condition. In other words - in your "old environment" before you repented and believed in Christ you were a sinner (the Bible says you were "in Adam" - In the preceding section we looked at 1Cor 15:22 which describes the two "spiritual positions" of every person alive - either "in Adam" or "in Christ") and after you were "baptized into" Christ (by grace through faith) you became a New Creature in Christ (2Cor 5:17).

So what does Galatians 3:26-29 teach about the believer's new identity?

Romans 6:1-7

Explanatory Note: In Romans 6 when Paul refers to SIN, he s not speaking of "sins" we commit, but he is personifying sin as the Power which like an evil king ruling over our body causes us to commit individual sins. What happens to the evil "dictator" Sin?

Ro 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase?
2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism (identification) into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin;
7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

According to Romans 6:1-7...

What happened when we entered the New Covenant? (Note: "Baptized" in this context speaks of identification - how would that relate to what you've learned about covenant?) When we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we were _________ with Him.

What truths do you observe in Ro 6:1-7 that relate to one's ability to carry out our covenant responsibility? (see especially verse 6).

Romans 13:12-14

Ro 13:11 And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand (What day? In context = Day of Christ's Return = Second Coming). Let us therefore lay aside (verb used of taking off a cloak or coat) the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
14 But put on (a command) the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision (another command) for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

Explanatory Note: "Flesh" (sarx) has a number of meanings in the NT depending on the context. In this context, the meaning of flesh is that "anti-God" tendency (that focuses on self and is prone to wander into sin) which every person ever born inherited from Adam and which is still present in believers and cannot be "improved" - i.e., fallen "flesh" will always be evil until the day we are glorified. Sometimes Paul uses the phrase "old self" as a synonym for the fallen "flesh" (see following passages).

In light of the fact that believers in the New Covenant have a responsibility to their Covenant Partner, what does this text instruct us to "work out"?

What behavior is now inappropriate given our new identity in the New Covenant?

What other instructions do you see regarding our "new apparel"?

Ephesians 4:17-32

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
20 But you did not learn Christ in this way,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,
22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH, EACH ONE of you, WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.
26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.
28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.
29 Let no unwholesome (rotten) word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

In these passages (esp Eph 4:22, 23, 24) what "actions" does Paul describe that parallel the covenant actions of in the covenant between Jonathan and David?

How is the "old self" described? What about the "new self"?

What does Paul say is involved in putting off the old self and putting on the new self? (You might make a list with the contrasts).

Why are the "put offs" important? Who are we reflecting in the New Covenant?

Now let's continue to look at Colossians 3 for the NT description of what it looks like to put on a robe as we enter the New Covenant.

Colossians 3:1-17

Col 3:1 If (since) then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking (command to make this your habitual practice) the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on (command to make this your habitual practice) the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 Therefore consider as dead (command to do this immediately, effectively, even urgently) the members of your earthly body to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come,
7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him
11 --a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

What are the initial responsibilities Paul issues to New Covenant partners in Colossians 3?

Why does he say these should be carried out (Col 3:3)?

How does this compare to a similar truth in Romans 6? What does Paul say about our life in Ro 6:3? How would this relate to our being in the New Covenant (whose life is to be seen?)

What else does Paul say about our life in Col 3:4? What is significant about that in regard to carrying out our New Covenant responsibilities?

What are we to "put off" in Col 3:5 (the idea of "putting off" something "dirty" is but not the exact words)? How is this possible from what we have looked at in Col 3:1-4 (See also the truth in Ro 6:1-7)?

What other "old clothes" are we to discard? What "new clothes" are we to put on?

Who will others see if we accomplish the "change of clothes" Paul recommends? (cp the familiar saying "The clothes make the man"!)

Note: Remembering that the exchange of robes when one cuts covenant pictures taking on the identity of the covenant partner, can you see how the "change of clothing" in Colossians 3 and Ephesians 4 relates to putting on Jesus, identifying with Him, becoming one with Him (so that when others see us, they see His "robe" on us).

OUR NEW
COVENANT PARTNER

Now in this last section we'll look at how our Covenant Partner took on our "clothes" to enable Him to be able to even cut covenant with sinful men!

First, what did Isaiah say about our "clothes" before we entered the New Covenant?

Isaiah 64:6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment...

What does 2Cor 5:21 teach about the "clothes" our Covenant Partner provided for us when He cut the New Covenant? What "clothes" did He have to "put on" that we might be able to wear His clothes?

2Cor 5:21 He (God the Father) made Him (the Son) Who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

How was our Covenant Partner able to wear our clothes?

What did He have to do in order to cut covenant with us?

For the answer look at Phil 2:5-8...

Philippians 2:5-8

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Hebrews 2:9,10, 14-18

What did our Covenant Partner have to do in order to put on our "clothes"?
Why did Jesus take our identity (List them out -- He 2:9, 10, 14-18)?

Heb 2:9 But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

There is much truth in this week's lesson on the practical aspects of the New Covenant as it relates to walking worthy of the Lord who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. May we each take time to ponder (meditate on) what our Covenant Partner has accomplished for us when He cut covenant and made it possible for each of us to enter His New Covenant and be clothed with His "royal robes" of righteousness. And may this enhanced understanding motivate us to seek to fulfill our covenant responsibilities for our good and His glory.

May His sufficient grace and perfect peace be yours in abundance this week and may His Spirit enable you to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness in Christ Jesus our Covenant Partner. Amen

The main points of lesson 2 on covenant.

• The exchange of robes between Jonathan and David signifies the identification of one with the other.

• When we entered into the New Covenant, we were identified with Christ - His death, burial and resurrection.

• Therefore we are to make the moment by moment choices so that we reflect our new identity. Now when others look at us they should ‘’see Him’’, because we are so totally identified with Him.

• The exchange of robes signifies a TOTAL IDENTIFICATION of one w/ another.

• When we entered into the NC, we were identified w/ Him--His death, burial & resurrection.

• THEREFORE we are to make the moment by moment choices so that we REFLECT Him...so that when they look at us they ‘’see Him’’, because we are so TOTALLY IDENTIFIED with Him.

• Emphasize that the OT saints understood covenant and that we can never fully fathom what it means to be identified w/ Christ until we understand covenant. Covenant helps one understand Paul's prolific usage of the phrase "in Christ" or "of Christ".

When the OT and NT authors wrote these passages, they were very familiar with the custom of cutting covenant. They thoroughly understood the symbolism that was involved. Until we understand covenant historically and are familiar with the definitions concerning covenant, we will never fully fathom the truths that are there for us in the word of God.

WHAT IS THE HEBREW WORD FOR COVENANT?
Beriyth is a noun which describes a compact made by passing between pieces of flesh. Each week as we begin this study on covenant we will examine these definitions, and each week we will grow in our understanding of what these words really signify.

WHAT IS THE HEBREW WORD FOR "MADE"?
Karath-verb = to make an alliance, to make a bargain, to make a covenant by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN THESE TWO WORDS ARE USED TOGETHER?
To cut a covenant

WHAT WAS THE GREEK WORD FOR COVENANT?
Diatheke-testament, covenant

HOW COULD COVENANT BE DESCRIBED ACCORDING TO THE DEFINITION IN THE T.W.O.T.?
The closest, holiest and inviolable contract that could be conceived.

FROM THE EXPLANATORY NOTE, WHAT DID A COVENANT INVOLVE IN REGARD TO A PERSON?
1) Covenant involved surrender of one’s self to the covenant partner

2) Covenant involves a merging of individual nature to dual nature

WHAT WAS THE FIRST IDEA OF COVENANT? Who initiated? What was God's motive?
• Genesis 3:15 God gave a promise of the Gospel -- to provide a redeemer for man, one who would pay the price that sin demanded.
• God and man-NOAH-not to destroy by flood; Abraham-to propagate, bless; MOSES-conditional covenant based on law
• God's love and His grace (cp Ge 6:8KJV)

WHY WAS COVENANT SO IMPORTANT IN GOD’S OVERALL PLAN?
• No covenant = no preservation of man = no continuance of the race.
• Sin separates
• Covenant binds together

WHAT WERE SOME OTHER COVENANTS? WHY DID MEN CUT THOSE COVENANTS?
Abimelech-Abe & Isaac, Jacob & Laban - these were cut because of fear

WHAT ACCOMPANIED THE CUTTING OF COVENANT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?
Signs, feasts, sacrifices (blood), oaths, name changes, memorials, witnesses, blessing for keeping (not really discussed yet), cursing for breaking (the conditional old covenant)

JONATHAN CUT A
COVENANT WITH DAVID

NOW WE WILL LOOK AT COVENANT BETWEEN JONATHAN & DAVID - WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE SYMBOLISM SO THAT WE CAN SEE THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THEIR COVENANT IN THE OLD COVENANT AND CHRIST'S COVENANT WITH US IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

First Samuel 18:1 Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2 And Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house 3 Then Jonathan made (cut) a covenant (karath berith) with David because he loved him as himself. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.

Why did Jonathan make (cut) covenant with David? Basis was love 1Sa 18:1, 3

What did Jonathan do? Jonathan gave David the robe, sword, bow and belt

Why did Jonathan's giving David the robe symbolize? 

Symbolically David was "putting on Jonathan". In other words David would take on the identity of Jonathan, his covenant partner.  The picture is that of two becoming one.

NOTE: E.g., in Ge 2:24 which describes the covenant of marriage, a man leaves and cleaves and what do the two become? One flesh in the covenant of marriage.  Stated another way the giving of the robe signifies a total identification of one with the other (consider the phrase Jonathan "loved him as himself" - 1Sa 18:1).

What is implicit in the symbolism of two becoming one, of total identification of one with the other?

Surrender of one’s separate self or rights. Yielding your rights to your covenant partner.

Remember that most people today do not fully comprehend the full meaning of the word covenant -- but in the ancient world, a covenant was the closest, holiest, most solemn, most binding and most inviolable agreement that could be conceived between two parties. So Jonathan initiated the covenant with David with full realization and understanding of the serious binding nature of what he was doing.

What might Jonathan have surrendered? What rights did Jonathan possess (who was his father)?

Jonathan could turn away from his right to the throne of Israel, his personal ambitions, his family -- all of this was based on their covenant and was proof of that he loved David as himself.

What does this illustration have to do with our new covenant relationship with Jesus Christ?

What happened when we repented and received Jesus as Lord and Savior?
We enter the New Covenant we become one with Christ and are identified with Christ. We experience a change of garments and are no longer in Adam but are now in Christ (1Co 15:22).

If we are in covenant with Christ and we are wearing His robe, do we have any responsibility? Who should others see? As a result of entering the new covenant, and having put on Christ's robe, we have the responsibility to live in such a way that the world sees Christ and not us.

Now carrying this Old Testament analogy forward to the New Covenant, when a sinner receives Christ as Lord and Savior by grace through faith, they enter into a holy, solemn, binding covenant with Jesus Christ and symbolically "put on Christ's robe" ("put on Christ"). Given our understanding of the nature of the covenant between Jonathan and David, now we want to examine some NT Scriptures that will help us understand some of the aspects of the spiritual "transaction" that took place with when we entered the New Covenant which He initiated and inaugurated with His precious blood. What happens to our identity? What about our rights? What about our responsibilities in the New Covenant?

What was our spiritual position and our destiny before we entered the New Covenant? Look at 1Cor 15:22

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive."

So before we entered the New Covenant we were all in Adam and destined for eternal death and separation from God. There is no middle ground.

Now how does Isaiah describe our "robe" while we were in Adam?

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment (Isa 64:6a)

Our "robe", our very best works, was like a "filthy garment" in the eyes of the Holy God.

What does 2 Cor 5:21 teach about the royal robe that Christ provided for us when He cut covenant?

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Now when God looks at us, what garment does He see? (Isaiah 61:10) What does Galatians 3:26-29 teach us about our new identity?

All who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. All who are identified with Christ, have clothed ourselves with Christ's robe of righteousness. Our spiritual position was in Adam, in Adam's filthy garments, but now we are in Christ and enrobed in His righteousness. That is our position, but what does our new position now call for? A new practice. A working out of this righteousness.

When did we clothe ourselves with Christ? Galatians 3:26 explains that we clothed ourselves with Christ when we became "sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

What does Galatians 3:27 say has transpired in the believer's life? For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

What is the simple meaning of baptized into? We have been in a sense placed into Christ, identified now and forever with Him. Thus Paul's frequent use of the phrase in Christ or with Christ.

It it is true that we have put on Christ's "robe" (of righteousness), the question we need to answer is -- Do we have any covenant responsibility? In other words, what is our identity now? How should impact the choices we make...or should it have any impact at all?

Let's look at what the following passages teach about entering the New Covenant and "putting on Christ's robe". Now we will look at a number of cross references that have covenant terminology. We probably had not recognized this covenant terminology before, and this where we are going to be expanding our understanding of the word of God. We need to remember that the writers and readers of the Old and New Testament scriptures were very familiar with this covenant terminology.

So let's reiterate -  (a) Believer's have put on Christ's identity. (b). And because that is true we now have a responsibility to walk (conduct) ourselves in a manner worthy of (reflective of) the identity of our Covenant Partner Christ. Believers have entered into a solemn and in dissolvable compact and with that merging (two becoming one) and the new identity there comes the responsibility of showing forth that new identity.

Let's look at Romans 6...

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? verse 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? verse 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been BAPTIZED into Christ Jesus have been BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH?  verse 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through BAPTISM INTO DEATH, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. verse 5 For if we have become united with {Him} in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also {in the likeness} of His resurrection, verse 6 knowing this, that our OLD SELF (MAN) WAS CRUCIFIED with {Him,} that our body of sin might be done away (rendered inoperative not destroyed as in the King James) with that we should NO LONGER BE SLAVES TO SIN;  verse 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

FROM ROMANS 6 let's determine some of the spiritual transactions that occurred when we entered the New Covenant in His blood, the covenant of grace...

What transpired in Romans 6:3? We were baptized into His death. When He died, we died. The idea is that when we entered the new covenant with Christ, we were immediately in a state of total identification with Him. As we grow in our understanding of the new covenant we will come to understand the significance of this vital spiritual principle.

What transpired in Romans 6:4? We were buried with Christ. When He was buried we were buried.

What transpired in Romans 6:5? We were united with Him in His death and His resurrection

How can we now walk or conduct ourselves in this world according to Romans 6:4? In newness of life - a brand new life.

What happened in Romans 6:6? Our old man was crucified with Him and the result is that we no longer have to obey our old slave master Sin. The power that Sin once had over us has been broken, which is why we can walk in newness of life.

What did Paul say we cannot continually do in Romans 6:1-2? Now that we are in the New Covenant we cannot continually commit sins.

When we commit sins now, what does that reflect? It's a choice. Before we entered the New Covenant, we did not have the power to choose not to commit sins. When I commit sins now, it is a choice I make.

How does Paul reiterate this truth of our new relationship to the "old man" in Romans 6:7? Believers are now free from Sin.

Now how does the truth of Romans 6:1-7 apply to our ability to carry out our responsibility to live as those who have entered the New Covenant?

HOW DOES GOD SEE US BECAUSE OF THE NEW COVENANT?
Positionally = clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

What is our responsibility? To work out our salvation - to practice our position so to speak. Why? So that the world sees Christ, not us.

What does it look like to practice our position, to live like the new man we are in Christ? We will look at the practical aspects of working out in a moment but for now the question each of needs to ponder is...

How do others see us? Clothes by Adam? Clothes by Christ?

Ro 13:12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

In light of our new covenant responsibility, what does Romans 13:12-14 teach?

Lay aside the deeds of darkness - this describes the clothes we wore before we entered the New Covenant.

Put on the armor of light  - The Lord Jesus Christ

What behavior or conduct or clothes are now inappropriate in light of our new covenant relationship?
Carousing (orgies) and drunkenness, Sexual promiscuity and sensuality, Strife and jealousy

What else does Paul instruct us in regard to our clothing?
PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST... What does that mean? Walk by His Spirit
Make No PROVISION FOR THE FLESH = our old garment-don't wear filthy rags..


WHAT PHRASES ARE USED IN EPH 4:22-24 that closely parallel the covenant actions of Jonathan & David?
(1) LAY ASIDE=PUT OFF THE OLD SELF or old man and (2) PUT ON THE NEW SELF

HOW WAS THE OLD SELF DESCRIBED in Ephesians 4:22?
Eph 4:22 that, in reference to your former manner of life,you LAY ASIDE THE OLD SELF,which is BEING CORRUPTED in accordance with the lusts of deceit,

Every trait of the old man’s behavior is putrid like rotting cadavers stinking, ripe for being disposed of!

WHAT DOES Paul TELL US TO DO in Eph 4:23?
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind...put on the new self

Eph 4:23 and that you BE RENEWED in the spirit of your of your mind, 24 and PUT ON THE NEW SELF,
which in {the likeness of} God HAS BEEN CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS of the truth.

HOW IS THE NEW SELF (the new garment) DESCRIBED in Eph 4:24?

Created in righteousness & holiness of the truth (our positional ''garment'')

Let's look at what makes this positional truth reality: Putting off/Putting on

PUT OFF/PUT ON
Ephesians 4:25 falsehood or lying  - speak truth
Ephesians 4:26 Sinful anger (what is the danger?) - anger that is not sinful (righteous)
Ephesians 4:28 Don't steal - Labor even to have something to share with him who has need
Ephesians 4:29 No unwholesome words - Edify with your words (gives grace)
Ephesians 4:31 Put away - Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, malice
Ephesians 4:32 gives 3 items of clothing to put on so that we "dress like Jesus" - be kind, be tender hearted, forgive each other (Why? God has forgiven you)

What are the put off's a picture of? Our old garment "in Adam" - the put off's represent the behavior that is no longer appropriate to those who are in the new covenant with Christ and are identified with Him.

The reality is that we are continually putting off dirty, rotten clothes and putting on righteous rags every time we make a choice. Every time we have a test in which we choose to respond like we did when we were in Adam or we can choose to respond corresponding to our new position in Christ, identified with Him, even empowered by His Spirit. Who will others see when we are putting off the old habits and putting on the new habits? Christ in us the hope of glory.

In Colossians 3 we come to a breakpoint in this short but powerful letter. In the previous 2 chapters Paul has explained who Christ is and who we are in Christ. In other words he describes our position. In Colossians 3 and 4 Paul now turns to our practice. The truth about our position always precedes the command to practice. Otherwise we would not even understand how we could possibly carry out the commands.

In light of this background, what does Paul command us to continually do?
In Colossians 3:1 we are to keep seeking the things above and Colossians 3:2 we are to keep setting our minds on the things above.

Why does Paul say we are to keep setting our minds on the things above (Colossians 3:3)?  For we have died and our life is hidden with Christ in God.

When did we die? When we entered the New Covenant with Christ. We were made one with Him. We were identified with Christ at this time. It became real in our lives the moment we received Christ as Lord and Savior.

How did Paul describe it in Romans 6:3? In Romans 6:3 Paul asks -- Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Remember the truth is that we were identified with Christ in this spiritual baptism.

Now that our life is "hidden", whose life should be seen? The life of Christ, our Covenant Partner.

In Colossians 3:4 what does Paul teach about our new life in the new covenant? We have a new source of power - the life of Christ who is our life.

What about our motive for living in the present? Colossians 3:4 says we will be revealed with Him in glory. We have a glorious future promised to us -- it is a covenant promise by a covenant keeping God.

Now based on the truth in Colossians 1 and 2 and in Colossians 3:1-4 what dirty clothes are we to discard now what we are in the New Covenant with Christ? 

What does Paul command them to throw off in Colossians 3:5 (remember when the Bible gives a commandment, it always provides the enablement).

Colossians 3:5  Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

How is it possible to kill these sins? Colossians 3:3 says that Christ is our life. Our covenant partner gives us the power to throw off these dirty behaviors, but we still have to make the choice to avail ourselves of His provision and power. It always comes down to a personal choice.

What other dirty rags are we to put aside? In Colossians 3:8 Paul says put them all aside - anger, wrath (thumos), malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie.

What does Paul say we should take off the various pieces of dirty clothes mentioned in Colossians 3:5-9?

He explains that we "laid aside the old self with its evil practices"

When did we lay aside the old self?
When we entered the New Covenant with Christ

What other spiritual action happened when we entered the New Covenant with Christ - Colossians 3:10?
We put on the new self (cp we were made new creations in Christ 2Cor 5:17)

What is happening to the new man now? He is continually being renewed to a true knowledge

WHAT ARE THOSE WHO ARE CHOSEN OF GOD, HOLY & BELOVED TO PUT?
1) heart of compassion
2) kindness
3) humility
4) gentleness
5) patience (makrothumia) a long holding out of the mind before it gives room to action or esp passion
6) bearing w/ one another
7) forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
8) put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity (WHY? love binds all the above characteristics together)
9) let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts
10) let the word of Christ richly dwell within you w/ all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another

Who do these put on's look like?
These attitudes and actions look like Jesus and demonstrate to those around us that we have entered a new covenant with Jesus and have a new identity.

Remembering Jonathan's actions when he cut covenant with David pictured Jonathan emptying Himself and giving up his own rights, let's look at New Testament passages that describe what Jesus did in order to cut covenant with us.

What did Jesus have to do according to Philippians 2:5-8?
• He existed in the form of God, (but) did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped - in other words Jesus did not demand and cling to his rights as God.
• He emptied Himself - taking the form of a bond-servant,
• He became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Let's unpack this Philippians passage a bit more as to how it pictures the exchange of clothing similar to that depicted in the covenant between Jonathan and David...

First - What does Isaiah 64:6 say about the clothing of men? All our righteous deeds are like filthy rags (cp "fig leaves" in Ge 3:7 and God's "righteous", "substitutionary" provision of animal skins necessitating spillage of blood)

Keeping the "clothing metaphor", how does Paul (Second Corinthians 5:21) explain the spiritual transaction that occurred when we entered the New Covenant in His blood?
Jesus Who was sinless took our sinful clothing upon Himself
In exchange we received His "robe" of righteousness
What amazing mercy and grace!

Now when compared to the passage in Philippians we see...
• Jesus identified Himself with us and thus became the satisfactory sacrifice.
• Jesus took on our "filthy rags" and experienced the death we deserved.

Why did Jonathan cut covenant with David? He loved him as himself (First Samuel 18:1)
Why did Jesus cut the new covenant? What was His underlying motive? In John 15:13 Jesus said "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." And in Ephesians 5:2 Paul says "walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."

So just as Jonathan in a sense "gave himself up" for His covenant partner David, so too our New Covenant partner gave Himself up for us that we might put on His royal robe of righteousness (2Co 5:21, 1Co 1:30).

How did Jesus identify with us in Hebrews 2:9 and Hebrews 2:14? In other words, in covenant terms how do we see Christ put on our robes?

Hebrews 2:9 = made for a little while lower than the angels
Hebrews 2:14 = shared in flesh and blood

Why did Jesus take on our identify, putting on our sinful clothes?
1. To taste death for us--------------------------------- Hebrews 2:9
2. To bring many sons to glory----------------------------Hebrews 2:10
3. To render the devil powerless---------------------------Hebrews 2:14
4. To deliver us from the power of death---------------------Hebrews 2:15
5. To become our merciful & faithful High Priest----------------Hebrews 2:17
6. To be able to come to the aid of those who are tempted--------Hebrews 2:18

DO YOU SEE AN EXCHANGE in the Hebrews passages?
He took on our humanity that we might be clothed in His Righteousness.

SO WHAT IS THE COVENANT MESSAGE?
He took on OUR HUMANITY that we might be clothed in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!

• So as we look at the covenant agreement between Jonathan and David and the exchange of coats, we can see how it prefigures the new covenant exchange of His robe of righteousness for our "filthy rags".

• Because we have entered into a new covenant, we can begin to see the responsibilities we have to so order our behavior that we reflect our new identity.

• Christ totally identified with our humanity that we might totally identify with His righteousness.

Who benefits the most from the new covenant? Which partner?

If Christ would be so willing to take on our identity for our sakes, should not we be willing to take on His identity and to do it with all our heart?

Can you begin to understand the gravity of being in covenant with the Godhead?

In light of the truths discussed, can you begin to see a greater level of accountability because you are in covenant with the Jesus Christ?

Do you see that your covenant responsibility is to reflect Christ's life rather than your life?

If entering the New Covenant means that I have put on His robe, then the question that must be asked, is my life reflecting my covenant partner the Lord Jesus Christ.

Another word for Covenant=Testament (we carry a book of covenants or testaments)

REVIEW OF ASPECTS OF COVENANT:

1) Motive = Love
2) Teaches assurance that He Who has promised is faithful
3) Binding commitment-once you are in covenant there is no way out
4) Costly to enter into covenant-always required a sacrifice.

The covenant ritual had two parts: IDENTITY PART and COMMITMENT PART. Most of us like the former but the latter often elicits a different reaction and we don’t like what the word of God has to say about COMMITMENT.

There are several steps : from the life of David & Jonathan 1Samuel 18

(1) In identity TWO BECOME ONE -- it’s a mystery, like a husband and wife becoming one flesh as they enter into the marriage covenant.

(2) When you enter into covenant you relinquish your right to independent living.

When they exchanged robes it meant that there was a total exchange of identity. The soul (nephesh) in Hebrew equated with the whole person...so they had entered into a oneness. Think about us being in covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ, all we are for all that He is.

In 1Samuel 18:1''...the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David...''-the word knit means to be bound together, to be linked together. Do you struggle with your eternal security? You are knit together-you can no longer separate the two! They have been made one. The needs of one then become the needs of the other.

(3) A total unselfish love for one another

Men in ancient days understood what it meant to enter into covenant. Do these principles help you understand what Jesus means when He says ‘’Count the cost’’?

EXCHANGING THE ROBE:

It takes two to enter into covenant-Jonathan & David. Remember we are relating these principles to our relationship with Jesus and what it means to be identified in and with Him. What Has God Done to Initiate Covenant with Man especially in the exchange of robes? Did you notice that it was Jonathan doing the initiating of covenant with David.

Heb 2:14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant (seed) of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Philippians 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men.8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name.

2Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all [these] things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin [to be] sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

WHAT DID GOD DO THEN TO INITIATE COVENANT WITH MAN?

He put on our robe of humanity, our likeness. God initiated this...WHY?

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.''

Now it is not as if you can make everything God has done fit into covenant...you just take covenant and put it wherever it fits. So Jesus put on my robe of humanity and he wore it to the Cross.

The key is that the only way man could ever be in oneness again was to have our sinful robe be dealt with...can you better understand what Christ did? He identified with our sinful robe, taking the curse upon Himself and cursed is He Who hangeth upon a tree...and He went to the cross for you and I.

Can you see how this is all of GOD’S INITIATIVE from Noah through Abraham to the promised Seed, the Lord Jesus, Who came to put our robe upon Himself and to die in our place so that we can put on His robe of righteousness. Now we can be identified, in oneness with God once more as Adam was before the Fall. Can you see how the covenant vow between Jonathan and David that knit them is a picture of the relationship that God wants you and I to enter into with Him?

Christianity is not just getting into heaven-Christianity is getting heaven into us. Christianity is a RELATIONSHIP (a Person, not a program). An entering into. An identity. A oneness. An exchange of robes as we enter into a covenant with the living God. So what has God done to initiate covenant? He emptied Himself came to this earth and took on our robe of humanity in the likeness of human flesh and He lived a sinless life and He took all sin upon Himself and died in a place where we should have died and than He rose from the dead now to offer us a different robe, the robe of righteousness.

HOW THEN CAN WE PUT ON HIS ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS?

This is what SALVATION is all about-it’s putting on that robe of righteousness, entering into identity with the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation involves repentance, faith or belief and in that belief is inherent a receiving of what He has done and wants to do (a receiving of Him into myself).

Some say Lordship is not the issue in salvation...but if I understand Lordship, I understand deity and I understand repentance and turning away from what the flesh could ever do or could ever have done. It’s an attitude of my heart, a bowing down. If Wayne understands belief correctly, it’s throwing myself, casting myself totally upon Him, totally committing myself to Him in an attitude...not a set of works...but an attitude, a heart attitude...and then receiving of a Life coming into me. Wayne looks at salvation as more than just buying an insurance policy but becoming a partaker of the divine nature as a result of repenting from an old sinful nature. So when Wayne says ‘’Lordship’’ please understand what he means...the deity of Christ-bowing down in His presence, understanding that I am a sinner and could never do anything whatsoever that would make me righteous...my flesh is condemned...but bowing down and receiving His mercy and grace, confessing myself as a sinner and then letting Him come in and take over and be the Lord and Ruler and Master of my life. Something marvelous takes place when we experience salvation but because many don’t understand covenant and they therefore do not understand the identity that is taking place...a brand new identity.

EPHESIANS 4:20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in [the likeness of] God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one [of you,] with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

How do you explain Paul’s exhortation to ‘’put on the new self’’? I thought that when I entered into salvation, that’s when I put on the new man, the robe of righteousness. Yes, that is true. The tense in put on is aorist middle...put on is a word that means to enter into (Compare the same word in 2Tim 3:6) For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses)

The tense of put on is aorist tense=completed action. The idea is that although at salvation you put on Christ-this refers to POSITIONAL TRUTH. So once you have put on Christ at salvation it is once for all and cannot be undone. The aorist tense also can be used to described punctiliar action...something that is repeated over and over (like a rapid series of snapshots-not the continuous action of a motion picture which describes the present tense). So when Paul says in Romans 12:1 to present your bodies to God, he uses aorist tense to describe something you have to do each day, moment by moment.

So when you put on, you entered into Somebody...I came into identity with Somebody...I came into oneness with Somebody...I was knitted together with Somebody...I experienced love like I have never known it before. So the picture God is showing us is that ‘’You have entered into Me. You’re bound to Me. You’re woven into Me. You’re knitted into Me.’’ Colossians 3:3 says that ‘’your life is hidden with Christ in God’’ and in the Greek text it means the same thing as ‘’being knitted’’ in the Hebrew.

COLOSSIANS 3:10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him
Put on=aorist middle=middle means that you did it of your own choice-->indicates the subject initiates the action and participates in the results of the action. So you make a choice just like Jonathan made a choice to covenant with David.
If you will really begin to understand what this is saying...that you are part of the mysterious union that occurs when a person enters into Covenant...and you begin to understand the words knit, weave together, hidden and then you begin to understand that there is simply no way of separating out something that has been blended together, then you begin to understand what happens the moment of salvation. You enter into a COVENANT.

`Maybe you don’t feel like you are in identity with Christ. Maybe you don’t live like you are in identity with Christ. Is that possible? Sure it’s possible. That’s why Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3 were written.

HOW DO YOU DAILY PUT OFF THE OLD AND PUT ON THE NEW?

Colossians 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk in Him,

How did you receive Him? REPENT (turn away from...from what? from anything the flesh ever could do, ever can do or even thinks about doing...walk away from it because you know that anyone in the flesh is repulsive to God; i.e., the flesh is not redeemed and is therefore not acceptable to God.) Walk away from anything you can ever do apart from God’s empowerment in your life. The attitude of the Pharisees was that they did not understand righteousness. They did not realize that they could never be righteous in themselves. That whatever they did that was ‘’good’’ was really filthy rags in the sight of God. Repent of that. Be willing to admit to God what you cannot do apart from Him. Turn away from it.

By BELIEF-an action, a reaching out to God, saying ‘’yes’’ to God, ''whatever You want I admit to you that I cannot but I know that You can.'' When you ''practice'' this putting off and putting on, something begins to happen and Jesus starts to become Jesus in you. His ‘’robe’’ begins to be appropriated in your life and you will be seen to be in identity with the Lord Jesus Christ.

2TIMOTHY 2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love [and] peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

This verse conveys the idea of repentance-run away from and pursue something else. You can’t really turn away from something and say that you have truly repented until you’ve turned towards the right thing. Pursue righteousness...don’t confess righteousness. Just confessing it will not make it experientially real in your life. Yes, confess before God that in your flesh (which is not yet redeemed), that your mind apart from what God can enlighten, your mind apart from the revelation of God’s Word, can do nothing but end up on a dead end street called ‘’unrighteousness’’. Confess that before God and turn away from that. Now pursue. By the way righteousness is built around one Person, Christ Jesus, and is not the end result itself...the end result is the Person of Christ Jesus in your life.

This teaching on covenant is at a danger point---the idea of ‘’look who you are in Christ’’ and all of a sudden your entire emphasis shifts and you say that ‘’I’ve entered in and that’s who I now am’’ and you start trying to live with the attitude that you can do it...Don’t call me, God. I’ll call You. But that’s not the way it works.

Yes I have received the cloak of righteousness and am woven and knit together with the Lord Jesus Christ but I live in a body which is not yet been redeemed and with a mind that is not yet been renewed like it needs to be. If I don’t recognize the dangerous potential of what that can do to me every day to produce nothing more than filthy rags, then I’m not going to enter in. I’m not going to put on daily. But when I understand that it is not only once and for all but it is also punctiliar and in every decision of my life I repent, turn away from what I can’t do and I believe what God has said and I say ‘’Yes’’ to Him and in the power of His Spirit and by grace then He allows me to see appropriated in my life that robe of righteousness.

Remember we have a new nature, partakers of the divine nature of Christ when it comes to eternal things but I still have a body of flesh and I must reckon with it. The penalty has been paid but daily I must enter in just like I initially entered in and when I practice this lifestyle, then I can be delivered from the power of sin and one day delivered from the presence of sin.

Story of Turkey and Eagles...
Eagle falls out of his nest...is taken in by a bunch of turkeys...begins to live like a turkey even though he is an eagle...turkeys are afraid of storms but eagles love storms...one day he was eating acorns and eagles hate acorns...a storm lifts him up and he begins to discover who he really is.

Wayne used to teach this as an illustration to know who you are. Wayne nose-dives every time he tries to think of himself as an eagle. But there is good news for turkeys. How did you get the robe on? by grace which comes when repentance and faith have been exercised. Now I come before the Lord and say ‘’I’m a turkey and I can’t soar like an eagle apart from what You can do in my life. I admit and repent of that old flesh. Now, Lord, thank You for Your grace and I get to soar like an eagle.’’ That’s the way it works.