The remarkable sign of this everlasting covenant is the Ten Commandments and specifically the Lord’s Sabbaths which ascribe to Him the honor and glory due to His name, and identify Him as the One and only true God. Moses said to the children of Israel; “The Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire, you heard the sound of the words, but saw no forms; you only heard a voice. So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone” (Deuteronomy 4:12-13).
The children of Israel was given a serious warning saying; “Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord you God has forbidden you, for the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:23-24).
The Sabbaths are the sign which truly identifies God above all others and distinguish His people as a special treasure to Him above all people. For thus says the Lord; “Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” ‘Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant” (Exodus 31:13, 16).
Again the Lord said to the children of Israel, “I am the Lord your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God” (Ezekiel 20:19-20).
Now what is very interesting to note about this particular covenant, is the fact that they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed" (Romans 9: 6-8).
Signifying that, this covenant is perpetual between God and to all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. For we have been admonished saying; "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:28-29; Colossians 3:11).
Therefore, the covenant which the Lord commanded the children of Israel to perform which is the Ten Commandments which He wrote on two tablets of stone, and seriously warned them not to forget and teach them to their children and grand children, is applicable to all those who are in Christ Jesus.
Now, the reward for keeping our part of this covenant is, "If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
The apostle Peter echoed a similar sentiment when he wrote: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10).
So my question to all those who profess to be the Israel of God are we fulfilling our part of the covenant?
To be continued
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