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2. The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant The Best Of Times

3. The Patriarchal Age  Days of limited revelation  No previous dispensation to learn from Lk 17:32 1 Cor 10:1-11 Heb 2:1-2  All they had is what God specifically told their fathers (the patriarchs) Gen 6:14 12:3 26:4 28:14 The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

4. The Patriarchal Age  Very few references to the Messiah… “veiled” ones at best Gen 3:15 49:10  No mention of righteousness demanded of kingdom citizens  No specific allusion to the coming of the kingdom The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

5. The Mosaic Age  Days of more revelation than previous age  More revelation of God’s redemptive plan  Given to chosen messengers (prophets)  Yet, they themselves did not know many (if any) of the particulars 1 Pet 1:11 Isa 7:14 Micah 5:2 The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

6. The Mosaic Age  However, it was not God’s final revelation  It was an inferior covenant Heb 8:7  It did not lead to complete forgiveness Heb 10:1-4  It did not provide the way to justification, reconciliation Gal 2:16 3:16-19, 24 The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

7. The Mosaic Age  However, it was not God’s final revelation  Those who lived prior to and under the Law were never intended to be perfected apart from those who would live in the “Best Of Times” Heb 11:39-40 The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

8. The Mosaic Age  The prophets of this age “…made careful search & inquiry” 1 Pet 1:10 Dan 7:13-19  To seek out in minute study, as one would sift through soil to find precious metals  They learned they were serving others (us), not themselves The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

9. The Mosaic Age  Also, angels “…longed to look” into such times 1 Pet 1:12  To stoop down; look carefully with great interest Lk 24:12 Jas 1:25  Though very interested, they were not able to fully know of what was to come The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

10. The Gospel Age  Jesus pronounced a blessing upon those living in the age where God has fully revealed His will Mt 13:16-17  Those living in this age are better than the prophets in this respect  Much has been given…much is required Lk 12:48 The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

11. The Gospel Age  God has shared with those living in these days the totality of all He is ever going to reveal to man  This is why we must reject latter-day revelations and so-called “visions”  It is the “faith once delivered” Jude 3 The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

12. The Gospel Age  God has shared with those living in these days the totality of all He is ever going to reveal to man  It is the composite of the thoughts of His mind 1 Cor 2:9b-13  It is the teaching that gives apostolic insight re: the “mystery” Eph 3:3-5 The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

13. The Gospel Age  Such a blessing also carries a severe warning Mt 12:31-32  To reject what God has shared in this age will seal one’s eternal doom  There will not be another revelation to come to learn more of God’s will for you… providing you a chance to repent The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

14. Conclusion  Lessons like this should give us greater appreciation for truth 1 Cor 2:12  Greater diligence in spreading it to those still lost in sin  Greater diligence in living it out in our own daily lives The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

15. Conclusion  God has blessed you by allowing you to live in this wonderful age  Prophets longed to know what you know  Angels desired to see what you know  Does your life reflect an appreciation for living in “The Best Of Times?” The Best Of Times The Advantages Of Living Under The New Covenant

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