05-Chapter IV. Sacred Institutions of Worship and Seven Great Covenants.

Chapter IV. Sacred Institutions of Worship and Seven Great Covenants. The Sacred Institutions of Worship.

1. The Alter. Make a careful study finding: (1) The first mention of it. (2) The different persons who are recorded as erecting altars, Gen. 1-Ex. 20. (3) The materials of construction, Exodus 20:24-25. (4) The purpose for which they were erected, including that of Joshua, Joshua 22:10; Joshua 22:22-29.

2. The Tabernacle, Ex. chs. 25-29. Study: (1) The instructions to build it, including the offerings and articles to be given. (2) Its furniture. (3) Its erection. (4) Its purpose, Exodus 29:42-45; Heb. Chs. 9-10. (5) Its history, when first set up, how long used, etc.

3. The Temple. (1) Solomon’s Temple. Study David’s desire to build and his preparation for it. 2 Samuel 7:1-2; 2 Chron. 28, 29; its material, erection and dedication, 1 Kings 5-8; 2 Chronicles 2:6; its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar’s general, 587 B. C. (2) Zerubbabel Temple. Study the decree of Cyrus, return of the Jews, rebuilding and dedication, Ezra Chs. 1-6; its destruction by Pompey 63 B. C. and by Herod the Great 37 B. C. (3) Herod’s Temple. It was begun 20 or 21 B. C., John 2:20; Matthew 24:1-2; Matthew 13:1-2; Luke 21:5-6, and destroyed under Titus, A. D. 70.

4. The Synagogue. Greek work meaning an assemblage. There were synagogues wherever there were faithful Jews, about 1500 in Palestine and perhaps 480 in Jerusalem. The officers were (1) Ruler. Luke 8:49; Luke 13:14; Mark 5:15, etc; (2) Elders, Luke 7:3; Mark 5:22, etc; (3) Minister, Luke 4:20. The service was one of prayer and reading and expounding the scriptures. It was through the worship at the synagogue that the apostles everywhere had opportunity to teach Christianity.

5. The Church. The word means an assemblage and is most commonly used of a local congregation of Christian workers. It is sometimes called the church of Christ, Church of God, Saints, etc. Churches were established in cities and in homes. It is not proper to call all the Christians of a particular denomination a church. Nor can we call all of any denomination in a given territory a church. It would be wrong to say the Baptist church of the south. In the New Testament we can get a rather clear idea of it as an institution by a study of a few principal churches and leaders of the Christian movement after the ascension of Christ. The Seven Great Covenants.

There are two kinds of covenants. (1) Declarative or unconditional, example, Gen. 9-11, "I will." (2) Mutual or conditional, example, "If thou wilt." All scripture is a development of or is summed up in seven covenants.

1. The Adamic Covenant, Genesis 3:14-19. Outline the elements of the covenant, showing the persons affected and the results or conditions involved.

2. The Noahic Covenant, Genesis 8:20-22; Genesis 9:1-27. Outline the elements of the covenant, and the results affected.

3. The Abrahamic Covenant. Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 7:3. other details, Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 15:1-18; Genesis 17:1-8. Outline, giving the elements, blessings proposed, temporal and spiritual or eternal. This is sometimes called several covenants but it seems best to consider it one that is enlarged upon from time to time.

4. The Mosaic Covenant, Ex. 19-30. Given in two parts: (1) Law of Duty (10 commandments), (2) Law of Mercy, Priesthood and Sacrifices Leviticus 4:27:31; Hebrews 9:1-7. (3) To whom given, Exodus 19:3 and to all, Rom. 2,12; 3:19, etc. (4) Its purpose: (a) Negative, Romans 3:19-20, Galatians 2:16-21. etc; (b) Positive, Romans 3:19; Romans 7:7-13. (5) Christ’s relation to the Mosaic Covenant: (a) was under it, Gal. 4;4; Matthew 3:13, etc; (b) Kept it, Jno. 8:46; 15:10; (c) Bore its curse for sinners, Galatians 3:10-13; Galatians 4:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:21, etc; (d) Took the place of and ended the Priesthood and sacrifices, Hebrews 9:11-15; Hebrews 10:1-12, etc; (e) New covenant provided for believers in Christ, Romans 8:1; Galatians 3:13-17.

5. The Deuteronomic Covenant, Deuteronomy 30:1-9. Outline its elements, giving things promised and prophesied.

6. The Davidic Covenant, 2 Samuel 7:5-19. (1) Elements of the covenant and summary in the Old Testament. (2) In the New Testament.

7. The New Covenant. (1) Formed, Hebrews 8:6-13. (2) In prophecy. Jeremiah 31:31-34. (3) It is founded on the sacrifice of Christ. Matthew 26:27-28; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 9:11-12. (4) It is primarily for Israel, but Christians are partakers, Hebrews 10:11-22; Ephesians 2:11-20. (5) Jews are yet to be brought into it, Ezekiel 20:34-37; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Romans 11:25-27.

Note. Try to see how all of these covenants met in Christ.

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