An intriguing and far reaching concept within covenantal theology is that of the difference between how God blessed his people under the old covenant versus his blessings upon them in the new covenant.
It looks like this: from the time of the fall of Adam until the resurrection of Jesus Christ, man was under the power of death and therefore had nothing to which to hope for after death. Thus, all of the blessing which God could and did bestow upon the old covenant people were physical. Even a brief preview of the Old Testament reveals this. Every blessing for obedience was some form of physical: long life, many children, freedom in the land, protection from enemies, and health. Of course, the curses for disobedience were the exact opposite, death, barrenness, eviction from the land, slavery and sickness.
But since the time of Jesus' resurrection/victory over death, the people of God (those in Jesus Christ, the church) are not limited to mere physical blessing. We will have eternal life, free from the oppression of sin, and constant, perfect relationship with God and each other. A review of the New Testament reveals this. Paul often speaks of the troubles and trails through which we will pass, but these are exercises which prepare us for eternity.
Changing our mindset about this reality will put an entirely different perspective on how we live.
It looks like this: from the time of the fall of Adam until the resurrection of Jesus Christ, man was under the power of death and therefore had nothing to which to hope for after death. Thus, all of the blessing which God could and did bestow upon the old covenant people were physical. Even a brief preview of the Old Testament reveals this. Every blessing for obedience was some form of physical: long life, many children, freedom in the land, protection from enemies, and health. Of course, the curses for disobedience were the exact opposite, death, barrenness, eviction from the land, slavery and sickness.
But since the time of Jesus' resurrection/victory over death, the people of God (those in Jesus Christ, the church) are not limited to mere physical blessing. We will have eternal life, free from the oppression of sin, and constant, perfect relationship with God and each other. A review of the New Testament reveals this. Paul often speaks of the troubles and trails through which we will pass, but these are exercises which prepare us for eternity.
Changing our mindset about this reality will put an entirely different perspective on how we live.
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