Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Hebrews 7:1-3 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

PTL! for He has ALL the answers!

I went to Hope International University, so I learned all about covenant (I read Mont Smith’s book), and all the components. I think that it’s a wonderful framework for understanding Scripture, but I think that any way we use as “the only way to understand the Bible” has blind spots. Covenant may be the best primary way (and I think it is), but I think there are other understandings that we can draw from to gain a richer, fuller understanding as well.

The parties to the contract are important, just as they are today you can promise to sign a contract and you can mean to; but ultimately only those actually sign or those who take the oath are part of the contract (terms and promises or rewards) .

The Mosaic Cov has 613 laws or terms to the contract, the American church loves to claim the ones that are convenient [the old pick and choose the ones you like] or the prayer a Jabez et al. Just as bad is making the “American churches ” claim of expecting those outside of the Cov to uphold the terms. …. REALLY?

The Panta Ta Ethne (to all the Peoples) or New Covenant
parties- God and all who choose to enter
terms- Reconciliation and Christlikeness
Promises – eternal Life; (Not happy times or riches or live like no one else)
Oath – Baptism
the Book Blood Oath is a good reference written in the 1900″s or What the Bilble Says about Covenant by Mont W Smith (Steve has a copy)

Don’t confuse what the Bible [Christ or the Apostles] say on a subject with what other authors say (including this one) Christ and the Apostles are the last word. After that all of our opinions are really weighted the same ie. Luther, Zwiengli, the Pope, Calvin Knox, Spurgeon, Moody, You & Me.