Covenant Remnant Versus Covenant Individual __Home

A God-given covenant is not an agreement mutually initiated between equals.  Rather, God stipulates the promise, conditions, and rewards of the covenants He makes with mankind.  Fortunately, God keeps His covenants, and does not lie. However, what it means to abide in covenant with God is an issue. Observant Jews today typically perceive their national affiliation with Israel, and Judaism expressed through circumcision among other things, and not just their physical lineage, as the prerequisite to being the covenant people of God eternally past, present, and future. On the other hand, SOME Christians are of the opinion that the Church, meaning those who believe Jesus is the Jewish Messiah for the nations, replaces national Israel for many erroneous reasons debunked elsewhere in this site. Other Christians do not believe the Church replaces Israel, but embrace a system of belief whereby the covenant with Abraham extended to all people fulfilled in Jesus (Yeshua) supports a doctrine popularly known as "Once saved always saved." Those embracing this point of view tend to believe mankind remaining in covenant with God through Messiah Jesus, Jew or Gentile, is God's responsibility in the sense that a person will be kept after making the initial commitment regardless of a change of allegiance (I develop this further in subsequent paragraphs).   It is true that it is God's responsibility to keep those drawing near to Him in faith through Messiah Yeshua. Unfortunately, not everyone, Jew or Gentile, will persevere in that saving faith through Messiah Yeshua alone. The apostle Paul makes it clear the fact that the God of the Bible is a covenant keeping God does not necessarily mean all Jewish individuals nor all Gentile individuals will be or remain the covenant people of God, or in the Christian understanding  “saved” past, present or future because of the unconditional covenant He made with Abraham. Nowhere is this clearer than in the letter to the Romans.

The doctrine of once saved always saved is the belief that when a person comes to know Messiah Jesus as their Savior, they are brought into a relationship with God that guarantees their salvation as eternally secure unconditionally.  The Bible indeed teaches the eternal security of the believer in Messiah Jesus who follows Him.  This is so because Messiah Himself is predestined from glory to glory, and the believer is sealed in Him by grace through faith.  And, that is true . . . in Him.  Consider a predestined round trip flight.  Once a passenger is in that plane he or she is predestined too.  On the other hand, the Bible teaches the eternal insecurity of the unbeliever apart from Messiah Jesus who are not in Jesus, and do not follow Him.  In this case, one can in a sense be considered predestined to eternal separation from God by sin. 

All Bible believing Christians believe in the eternal security of the believer in Messiah Jesus although those Christians in the once saved always saved category would not agree with me unless embracing their particular view on what it means to be secure. Those Christians believe once a person is brought into a relationship with God through Messiah they can never exercise their free will to change allegiances.   One reason is that it is assumed a true believer in Messiah Jesus would never come to the place of changing allegiances. Those having this perspective quote 1 John 2:19 out of context and conclude a person changing allegiances having previously made a sincere profession of faith in Messiah Jesus as their Savior was never a true believer in the first place or they would have remained. Certainly there are cases where this applies, but to conclude this is always the case is presumptuous for the Bible does not indicate it is so.  Making this assumption would kind of be like a spouse who received a divorce concluding there was never really a marriage, and that all people going through a divorce were never really married.  In some cases, and in a sense that might be true, but technically there was a marriage if vows were exchanged, etc. Moreover, this position underestimates the heart hardening effect, or power of sin that brings one to the place of indifference towards God, and can ultimately carry him/her away from Him in disbelief. It is not about what you or I can get by with in terms of sin, or even a question of being able to systematically determine God's cutoff point regarding a certain number of sins. That is missing the point entirely for those making that an issue. It is what sin does in us, to our faith, to our relationships, and especially to our relationship with God.

Another reason why those holding the once saved always saved unconditionally view believe that once you are brought into a relationship with God through Messiah Jesus one can not fall from their secure position in Messiah Jesus is because you are sealed in Him, but in spite of any changing allegiances one might have to the contrary in their view.  Indeed, the Bible teaches those in Jesus are sealed, but it is assumed as unconditional after sincerely making a profession of faith in Messiah Jesus.  Many argue that God is faithful to keep his covenants even when we are not.  This is a true principle, and thank God it is.  However, a true principle can be wrong in our application. The Bible says the condition for being sealed is that we are in Christ, which still begs the question, “Can you fall from your secure position in Christ?”

We should never lose sight that God has always been after a mutual relationship based upon love expressed by free-will faith (our response) because He first loved us (His initiative).  This was true for Adam and Eve who were not under Mosaic Law (Old Covenant) for Moses lived well after, but Adam and Eve were nevertheless under covenant with God (Hosea 6:7), and before there was a sin nature (cf Romans 6:6). Total depravity wasn't an issue for Adam and Eve. They were not "Children of wrath" before sin and death entered (Ephesians 2:3). In fact, they were clothed in the glory of God.  Yet, God permitted them to exercise their free will to believe in accordance with His perfect will or disbelive in accordance with His permissive will confirmed by their works even though God was able to keep Adam and Eve from falling in principle (cf Jude 24).

Why didn't God simply keep Adam and Eve from falling? Passages like 1 Peter 2:20 that inform the reader of a Suffering Servant Messiah for the redemption of sinners "before the foundation of the world" would make little sense if the Jude 24 principle meant then, or means today that God would violate free will to believe or disbelieve. In other words, "Why the cross 'before the foundation of the world' if Jude 24 meant God would violate mankind's free will to prevent their fall?" The same question can be asked regarding those today who began by grace through faith in the Spirit through Messiah Jesus' redemptive blood, but presently place their faith in their ability to keep themselves saved by observing the law. It it written one is alienated from Messiah Yeshua and fallen away from grace when one enters covenant by grace through faith through Messiah Yeshua, but does not not persevere by grace through faith in the Spirit through His redemptive blood (Galatians 5:4). (The Holy Spirit helps us keep the law as a result of grace by faith). Indeed, God is all knowing, and ultimately in control. However, God permits mankind to believe or disbelieve, to abide, or not abide in Him by grace through faith. Moreover, the devil did not snatch Adam and Eve out of God's hand. The devil didn't have the power. Rather, they were talked into, or deceived into exercising their free-will to disbelieve, and God permitted it. But, God being all-knowing already made provision for their redemption in advance according to 1 Peter 2:20 and others.  Therefore, could it be that the Jude 24 principle means those who cooperate by not hardening their hearts in response to God's ongoing mediated grace by faith in Christ will never fall?

The covenant Adam & Eve transgressed, or “Adamic Covenant” is still binding evident by the ongoing effects of their transgressing it, which is sin and decay unto death (Romans 6:23).  Had Adam & Eve not transgressed the covenant they would have lived forever in their physical bodies.  It was only after transgression they would physically die.  God is keeping this Adamic Covenant to this day. However, God made another covenant in Genesis 3:15 that made it possible for those, apart from the Mosaic law that came much later, and in spite of the affects of the Adamic Covenant to be saved from being eternally separated from God after physically dying. Without violating the Adamic Covenant God supercedes it with a Covenant of Grace.   Following Adam and Eve's transgression people were counted righteous with God by looking ahead to the fulfillment of “the Seed” of Messiah in Genesis 3:15, later in Genesis 12:3 and elsewhere, in faith.  In fact, this covenant is typified after the Mosaic Law was instated through the sacrificial system. (I develop this further in subsequent paragraphs and in this site). The danger then, as it is now, is in misplaced faith that is based upon something other than The Seed Redeemer, Who emerges in the TaNaCH called Old Testament by Gentiles, and the New Testament as the Jewish Messiah for the nations-Messiah the King Jesus. He is the “Second Adam” representative of those, past and present, Jew or Gentile, who are justified with God (Romans 5:12ff).  However, even here the assurance and certainty of one's being saved from eternal death is based upon abiding in the “Second Adam” by grace through the God given faith extended to all to believe or not in accordance with His permissible will.  It is a covenant of death versus a covenant of life.

I used to be very staunch in the belief of the once saved always saved unconditionally doctrine for many reasons that continue to be held by many dear people who love the Lord Jesus, many who do not misuse it to persevere in a life indicative of the sinful nature.  They tend to find great comfort, and serve God based upon God's unconditional love. This is certainly the correct posture, motive or response to God. Those redeemed by God in Messiah Yeshua, Jew or Gentile, should be compelled by the love of God, not to be saved, but because we are already eternally secure in Him by grace through faith.  However, there are many who do indeed misuse the once saved always saved doctrine for their own situational ethic, and lack Biblical fear of the Lord. To be fair-minded, all of us struggle from greater or lesser extents throughout the course of our lives with responding appropriately to God's redemptive initiatives.  Even so, the issue of God keeping His covenants for his name's sake was foundational in my former belief in this doctrine, in part, because the early teaching I received was taught to correct the false notion held by many that a person can justify, and/or keep themselves justified in God's sight IN THEIR OWN STRENTH when the Bible says those in Messiah Jesus are kept by abiding in the power of God by faith (cf. 1 Peter 1:5).  Historically such teaching was brought to the forefront by the reformers to correct abuses in the Catholicism where indulgences among other things were peddled for profit under the pretence of offering those without Biblical knowledge peace of mind regarding their security in Christ. Indeed, such teaching is correct when applied to show that we can't justify ourselves, but in due course it emphasized some of the facets of God's covenants at the expense of others. 

One distinction I had not considered as a younger Christian was the relationship between covenant individuals, a preserved remnant making up God's collective covenant people, and the purpose of his covenants.  Paul presents this relationship practically in the writings baring his name, Romans in particular.  Romans 11 makes reference to individual Jews severed from the root of Jesse for unbelief, and warns those from a non-Jewish background entering into the covenant promise through Jesus from the same.  Jesus is the root, and we are the branches.  Some Christian theologians teach the branches in the Romans 11 analogy represent nations in an effort to harmonize the once saved always saved position, but this error can be resolved in context by asking, “Which nations?”  And, what many Jewish people I have dialogued with fail to realize is that a covenant keeping God does not necessarily mean all Jewish individuals will always be the covenant people of God, or in our popular understanding  “saved” past, present or future because of the covenant He made with Abraham. Paul warns Gentile believers in Messiah to realize this as the Church age draws to a close. God's covenant ensures only a remnant will be preserved for His Name's sake, but it is every individual's responsibility, Jew or Gentile, to persevere in belief by responding to God's grace by faith in Messiah Yeshua according to the TaNaCH and the New Covenant writings. 

Many individual Jews died when the Babylonians were permitted to ravage Judah in six waves/three seiges culminating in the temple's destruction of 586-not to mention the Assyrian invasion of 722.  The remnant that was spared was preserved not because those particular individuals were blameless in God's sight for the best among them were no better than a minstrel cloth from God's perspective (Isaiah 64:6), but because of the covenant of grace that arguably began in Genesis 3:15 and “His name's sake.”  In fact, the TaNaCh reveals that the writers during this era continued to look ahead to the New Covenant. Moreover, God indicated that He would help the future remnant through the New Covenant cut in the blood of Messiah Yeshua precisely because of our inability left to our selves, and in spite of our best intentions, to be/do as He intends as recorded in the TaNaCH itself.  God was keeping His covenant through a remnant, but not necessarily all individuals are included. This distinction between covenant individuals, the remnant of God's collective covenant people, and the purpose of his covenants caused a paradigm shift regarding my understanding of grace several years ago, although I certainly haven't figured it all out. 

A true principle does not necessarily mean that every application we make is right. A popular saying among those gravitating towards the once saved always-saved perspective is “I am under grace, not the law”-especially when failing in some way.  That is a good, and true principle.  Thank God for the various means of grace He extends that gives us another chance, and another, and another . . . [70X7], to be and do what in accordance with the purposes of God's covenants? 

I perceive many of us really do not know what we were saying when using the expression "I am under grace, and not the law" to relieve one's self from conviction to stop what we are doing wrong, turn around, and move away from our failures for do we really consider the “be and do what in accordance with God's purposes” when using it for such purposes?  Who we are in Him, and Who He is in us impacts what we do-if He is indeed in us (1 John 2, & 3:9 ).  We can't say the mediated grace of God is empowering those with a new inner man to fail either, and Paul develops this particularly in the letter to the Romans.  It is one thing to realize you can not justify or keep yourself justified with God in your own strength, but its quite another to conclude that what you practice is not indicative of who you are when the same resurrection power that hung the stars is supposedly in you to be the people of God He's called us to be, and to do the things He's called us to do on earth as it is in heaven.   

Jesus didn't die a substituionary death to permit us to live under the same taskmaster, or so we could persevere in a lifestyle of sin that leads to death (1 John 5:18, Romans 6:23).  Rather, he died a substitutionary death to separate us from our sins, present us holy and without blame to God the Father, and to live His kingdom life through those receiving Him as Savior-for us to be His people, and Him to be our God. The entire letter of Romans is about God's grace enabling us through His empowering Presence by faith to be the Covenant people or God, Jew or Gentile, and to be representatives of covenant in Earth as in Heaven by responding to The Redeemer.  Grace, which includes the power and ability to be covenant people and do the things in covenant, by faith in Messiah The King, leaves us, Jew or Gentile, without excuse as much as grace covers us in our weaknesses for this grace by faith is the power and ability to do God's will. 

Indeed, there will be a remnant of Jews and Gentiles for His name's sake in accordance with His covenants, but it is every individual's responsibility, Jew or Gentile, to persevere in belief in response to God's grace by faith in Messiah according to the TaNaCH and the New Covenant writings.  So it's not about us doing it for God; it's about allowing God to do it through us-letting Him “live His Kingdom life through [you and] me” as one worship song goes.  I use the word allowing as it describes a partnership that emphasizes God's enabling in accordance with His Covenant of grace by faith. It comes down to ongoing allegiance and relationship with Messiah The King that is based upon free will faith, hope and love. 

Recently I kindly asked a hostile group the question, “Can you be Jewish and reject the Jewish Messiah?” Whether one is a physical descendant of Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob or not, whether one identifies with Israel or not, whether one identifies with the Church or not, the covenants of God are summed up in Messiah Yeshua, and abiding in Him. This applies to Jew and Gentile. In any case, I do not study to recommend myself to the world or to cultivate some sort of reputation as a scholar.  Volumes have been written on these subjects, and I realize I barely allude to how all peoples being blessed in Genesis 12:3 converge in the Jewish Messiah for the nations on this particular page.  I am also well aware of the tension that exists over the issue of total depravity and so called prevenient faith extended by God to believe or not to believe Him. Compare what I've written throughout the whole site relative to the Bible before becoming indignant, critical, or thinking of yourself as superior. Thank God for those who handle the word correctly by presenting all views fairly and accurately where offering constructive criticism when expressing their convictions. Hopefully, you will perceive my purpose on this page, as the distinction I make is an important one.

My purpose here is to briefly differentiate between a remnant and an individual in terms of covenant so that one will NOT ONLY perceive the need to be brought into a relationship with God by coming to Messiah Jesus as Savior in terms of a past event in one's experience or past profession, but to persevere in Him for it is that ongoing relationship which guarantees salvation as eternally secure or certain.  Interestingly, most Christian leaders I have known who believe in the once saved always saved position will admit they can offer no assurance to one having made a profession of faith, but not following Jesus in faith confirmed by practice right now. Actual eternal security is clearly predicated upon the New Covenant cut in Messiah's blood and our ongoing allegiance in cooperative response to God's redemptive initiatives based upon love expressing itself in faith according to the Bible.  Some might reckon it to an engagement where the earnest bride price has been paid in full by a bridegroom who is now preparing the bridal chamber until the Father releases the Son to fetch his bride who watches and waits in faith, hope, and love.  What a beautiful picture for those, Jew or Gentile, waiting upon Messiah Jesus in ultimate fulfillment of that Genesis 3:15 promise developed throughout the Holy Bible.  It's not a one-time event in our experience; it's an ongoing relationship with God in Messiah Yeshua the King.

Indeed, the covenants of God are unchangeable in spite of our disobedience, but complete in Messiah Yeshua.  This is why the Church does NOT replace Israel (Genesis 13:16, Genesis 15:18, cf Genesis 12:3, Genesis 22, Genesis 26) or why there will no longer be global floods (Genesis 9:11).  This is why people will continue to physically die until the consummation of God's Kingdom.  Nothing illustrates this relationship better than the graphic of the Ark of the Covenant on my Gospel and Covenant's page.  On that page I show how the good news of God's Kingdom is directly tied to the covenants of God progressively.  It illustrates that the Adamic and Mosaic covenant is in effect (not NECCESARILY obsolete), but perfectly superceded/fulfilled by the eternal sacrificial blood and Mediation of Messiah Jesus, Who is after the Priesthood order of Melchizadek, and is appropriated past, present and future by abiding in Him by grace through faith. In fact, embracing this New Covenant cut in Messiah Yeshua's blood supercedes any other covenant! That is truly great news!!!

Those who come to know Messiah Jesus as their Savior have their names written in the Book of Life in heaven, and are brought into a relationship with God that guarantees their salvation as eternally secure in Him.   God will never leave or forsake us, but what assurance is there if we utterly and willfully forsake Him Our Redeemer?  The truth of God being a covenant keeping God does not necessarily mean all Jewish or Gentile individuals to whom the covenant was and is extended through Messiah will always be included among the remnant covenant people of God (John 3:36, Matthew 12:31, Romans 11:22). Continuing by grace through faith in that covenant relationship makes our salvation certain.  Peter, writing to those in Messiah Yeshua said it this way, ". . . be on your guard so you might not be carried away by the error of lawless men, and fall from your secure position" (2 Peter 3:17b, emphasis mine).  It is an ongoing fight of faith, but “He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Messiah The King-Jesus, Revelation 3:5; Cf. Revelation 20:15).

Jesus is The Prince of Peace. Yet, He was/is considered divisive in terms of the claims he makes regarding one's allegiance to Him, and plainly taught He would be the subject of division on the issue of actively believing in Him or not (Mark 10:34). In fact, it is high treason to embrace the Jesus of the Bible in some families. Yet, abiding in Him alone is where safety and security exists now and for eternity. Those representing His exclusive message extended to all mankind to abide in Him alone accurately can expect no less (John 14:6, John 15:20). Moreover, it is important that every person understand what Jesus said as preserved in the Holy Bible for history shows a pattern of abuse on the issue of allegiance to Jesus whereby an individual or governing group of individuals asserts that following them is to follow God. I could give many examples, but I will present one.

After the founder of the Jehovah's Witnessess group passed his successor J.F. Ruthorford fired four of five directors on his board who disagreed with Ruthorford for making major decisions unilaterally. After removing personal accountability, Ruthorford, while perpetuating the end of the world was coming in 1925 to those following him on one hand, was requisitioning properties and the equipment for international expansion of their Watchtower publications that very year on the other. This raised questions among the older and wiser underlines who sacrificially served giving all in anticipation of the great 1925 hope, and especially after the deadline passed. In response, Ruthorford created a three class system using events in ancient Israel as recorded in the Bible out of context. Those conforming were considered "Ruth-Ester class," and everyone else were relegated to the lowest class of Naomi-Mordecai. Then, instructions were given to mark those raising reasonable questions under the circumstances as dissidents in accordance with selective scriptures, which further pushed them aside into a corner under the cloud of unfaithfulness. This was justified because, as you might guess, Ruthorford was at the top tier as the faithful representative, and following Rutherford was to follow Jehovah God in their view. This is one example where the issue of allegiance to God has been abused in history. Those interested in the details of this particular account can look up Raymond Franz and William J. Schnell.

When I speak of allegiance on this page I am not advocating following a man, a woman or group for salvation under the pretence of following God. Rather, I am referring to one embracing God in Messiah of the Bible as their Great Shepherd. Granted, that will involve reasonable accountability in accordance with the Bible to someone who was/is called by God to serve in a shepherd role on earth. Moreover, the Kingdom of God is not a democracy, but there are checks and balances until perfection comes. Rutherford maintained a theocratic system of governing on one hand, but ignored and/or removed the checks and balances on the other. Ruthorford's teaching was not Biblically sound, and he took an atomistic approach when using scriptures in his role among other things. However, it is Biblical to submit under shepherds of the God of the Bible who are accountable themselves, Biblically sound precept upon precept, and as unto the Lord whether agreeing on everything or not. And, we should not participate in causing problems. On the other hand, don't accept a yoke God never intended for you to wear. The more you know the Great Shepherd Who is God in Messiah, and the Bible-the better discernment you will have and not be as susceptible to deception. Even having a relationship and/or being accountable to good spiritual leadership among mankind in and of itself can not save you or ensure you are in covenant with God ultimately (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, cf. Romans 12-14).

If you do not have an ongoing relationship with God in Messiah Jesus the King you should be uncomfortable, and very concerned in spite of doctrines to the contrary. I know the once saved always saved with no personal responsibility to persevere in belief by grace through faith doctrine like the back of my hand. I know the rationale and what direction to go in a discussion to support it. I know the theological gymnastics involved in harmonizing it. In the final analysis, there is no security for those not abiding in Him period. Far be it from me to provide you false comfort in direct opposition to the Holy Bible on this point. On the other hand, if you are clinging to Messiah's finished work of seperating our sin from us to present us holy and without blame in His sight, and experiencing an ongoing relationship with God in Messiah Jesus the King on that basis by grace through faith you are indeed sealed and secure.

My understanding of the security of the believer in Christ and free will is tempered with Who God is by nature, how amazing God is, and in His love for mankind. I believe it is misrepresenting God to portray Him with a hammer in His hand waiting for folks to mess up. People, and especially children need to be well grounded in the love of God before they can ever grow up in Him. The goodness of God leads to repentance in principle. How we respond is another matter. I would have my own children do right as a result of our appropriate mutual love relationship rather than sheer punitive fear for many reasons. I prefer they run to me, and not from me in trouble. Even here, there are exceptions for there are rare cases where a child will never respond. I would rather be wrong about believing the best (which isn't always easy) than believing the worst, or worse, wanting to believe the worst. God reveals at several places in the Bible that he is patient, kind, and reaching out to even those, like the Ninevites who were not circumcised or kosher, but major exporters of all God abhors, and certainly not considered candidates of covenant by those sent to minister to them. Some were saved. There are individuals and nations like that today. Dr. Billy Graham considering such ongoing patience and kindness said that if God didn't eventually judge such a nation persisting in disbelief he would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. He's right. We certainly need to present a balanced message, and the teachers I know are balanced.

God takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked. He goes to extremes to fetch the one. That's Bible. He will go to extremes for you, and me. That's Bible. There are instances where God will allow a person to pass if He knows it is the only way it will keep a person from digressing to the point of disbelief unto eternal torment, but there are no guarantees this is always the case. That's Bible. There is a cut off point for those practicing immorality (which Paul calls idolatry, or worshipping something other than God) lawlessness, and persevering in unbelief. There is even a cut off point for the one who backslides as a result of disbelief unto the point of changing allegiances. Falling from grace by trusting in anything other than Messiah Yeshua for salvation, and/or by one's own admission is possible. I believe latter cases are rare based upon what I do know, but that is my opinion. Regardless, His Spirit will not contend forever, and persisting in grieving Him is never safe. That's Bible. It isn't my place to say what that cut off point is for a nation or a person-especially if it is not plainly stated in the Holy Bible. Even so , I pray that I will take the Spirit of Grace less for granted in my own life as I certainly haven't arrived.

Geisler's Chosen But Free is fairly easy to read, and a straight forward verse by verse book that might be helpful if you are interested.

In Him you are sealed and secure. No one can take you out of His hand, but you in terms of your allegiance. That is why the battle is over our faith with the goal of destroying one's allegiance to God in Him. May we all persevere in Messiah Jesus The King by grace through faith in love.

Blessed is Yeshua the King Who Comes in the Name of the Lord!

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