God and the Good
God’s relationship with human beings is defined by the covenant established between God and His people. The relationship between God and human beings is explained through Biblical events. Some of these events that portray this relationship include the creation of the universe. Human beings are created in a somewhat special manner whereby their relationship with God is immediately established. God creates human beings and all other things in the universe which signifies that human beings also fall under the jurisdiction with God. A covenant is a binding agreement between any two parties and which establishes the relationship between the two parties. In a Biblical theological context, God has always established a covenant with his people since time in memorial.
Thesis statement: Understanding God’s covenant with His people requires a greater understanding of Christian ethics from a biblical context. The understanding will aid in concluding on the type of covenant established between God and Christians.
A covenant between any two parties assists in establishing the importance of a relationship between any parties in an agreement. The New Testament focuses on the new covenant between God and his people. Unlike the past where God had established covenants between the Israelites and Himself, God wanted to create a permanently binding agreement between Him and Christians. The New covenant was different from prior covenants where individual mistakes were implicated in the entire community. The covenant between God and Christians was individualistic. Here, individuals were personally responsible for their wrongdoings. The relationship between God and human beings was also on an individual level. The new covenant was introduced by Jesus Christ who was believed to be the only begotten son of God. The new covenant between God and human beings was one mediated by Jesus Christ. The covenant was a binding covenant between not only God and the Jews but also between Him and the Gentiles. The fact that this new covenant involved the Gentiles showed that God was willing to establish relationships with other nations apart from the Jews. The binding factor in the new covenant was about repentance and believing in Jesus Christ as the Lord and savior.
God’s covenants with human beings are both conditional and universal. For the promises set by God to be delivered to the people, there exists a condition that must be met. God promises to protect and bless only those who believe and are faithful to Him. The new covenant is also universal in the sense that the new relationship is set between God and all people who believe and are faithful to Him. Particular and conditional covenants are those that create that certain events will be undertaken as long as a set condition is met. In the New Testament, the events described in the Gospel of Mathew leading to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ had to happen so that Christians could have eternal life. Unconditional and universal are relationships that are between God and human beings that have no binding factors. Unconditional and particular are covenants where God establishes specific relationships with certain human beings. In the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans, Paul preaches the Gospel to the Romans seeking to establish a relationship between them and God in accordance with the New Testament.
Saint Paul and Saint John are both writers that have authored the Letter of Paul to the Romans and the First Letter of John respectively. The Letter of Paul to the Romans can be categorized as particular and universal. Paul writes a letter to a specific fraction of individuals that are the Romans. In this letter, Paul establishes that He is a servant of God through Jesus Christ as His apostle. Establishing that he is a servant of God shows that the relationship he seeks to establish is that between the Romans and God. Paul also showcases that the covenant between God and his people is universal. He does this by noting that, “It is through him we have received the grace of apostleship; all over the world, men must be taught to honor his name by paying him the homage of their faith, and you among them, you, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” Paul through this letter establishes that he must ensure that God establishes a relationship between God and the Romans. Paul acknowledges that he has to perform his duty in ensuring that the two parties reach an agreement and further establish a formidable contract. The binding factor through which Paul seeks to establish the covenant is through belief and trust in God and His works. Paul notes that human beings had strayed away from God’s commands and rules are set in the new and old testament. Despite the people’s wrongdoings, God was willing to establish a new covenant between Him and the Romans. Paul notes that God had abandoned the people because they had failed to obey his commands thus showing that the covenant God wanted to establish with the Romans had to be conditional. The condition hereby was that the people turn away from sin and abide by God’s laws and commands.
The covenant established in the First letter of John dictates a conditional universal relationship. The covenant spelled out is one that places human beings clear of wrongdoings. The covenant is one established behind the Word which John describes as life the new covenant as described by John portrays a relationship established through fellowshipping with God through Jesus Christ. John reminds human beings of the Love that God has shown the people. “See how the Father has shown his love towards us; that we should be counted as God’s sons, should be his sons. If the world does not recognize us that is because it never recognized him.” Doing only that which is right and just is key in establishing a formidable relationship with God. The condition that binds God and human beings is the faith and love portrayed by God to His people. John asks us to follow God’s example and show love to one another as a sign of the new covenant. Keeping and abiding by God’s commandments and having faith in Jesus Christ is a clear sign of the establishment of the new covenant. John also highlights that the death and resurrection of the begotten son of God is an important sign of the established new covenant.
John’s interpretation of the covenant is that of a wider perspective. John does not limit the interpretation to a particular community. The world perspective allows ethical interpretation to influence individuals from all walks of life. The moral standards and behaviors provided by the Bible are established by John through the virtues of love and faith. John’s description and interpretation of the new covenant presents a somewhat open view of the covenant among all human beings. The morals dictated through John’s interpretation create a form of the spiritual dictate of behavior and conduct of individuals.
The good life in accordance with John’s view is one governed by faith and love. John states that the greater Love is that shown by God to His people and that is which should be manifested among the individuals themselves. Love is the factor that drives God to forget all the wrongdoings that people have showcased in the past. The evil that human beings have showcased is one that has annoyed God. However, love allows God to forget all these wrongdoings hence His willingness to establish this new covenant. One, therefore, has a moral obligation to portray faith and love for God and fellow human beings. John’s interpretation, therefore, influences the conduct of individuals across the universe among individuals from all walks of life. The interpretation will require individuals to abide by God’s commands. Abiding by these commandments will allow individuals to live in harmony amongst themselves. Societal peace will be assured while respect and love for God will be portrayed by human beings.
Paul in his writings targets the people of Rome in particular. He states, “I wish, to all those at Rome whom God loves and has called to be holy, grace and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul’s interpretation of the covenant is through the gospel that was promised to God’s people through the scriptures. Paul notes in particular of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as an important event in the birth of the new covenant. Paul’s interpretation revolves around the virtues of hope and faith which he preaches to the Gentiles. The new covenant is one that will guide individuals to living a moral and ethical life. Paul also highlights the evils exhibited by the Romans. He also notes that God is willing to forgive them for their wrongdoings as long as they repent and believe in the gospel. The interpretation provided by Paul showcases the moral obligation of forgiving one another as shown by God. The interpretation also dictates a moral obligation for truth and honor in individual actions and conduct.
The fact that Paul writes to the people of Rome may have a negative influence on other persons across the globe. The interpretation shows a type of covenant that is conditional and specific. Some persons from other parts of the world may view Paul’s message as one that does not concern them but that which only concerns the Romans. The influence of Paul’s writing to the people of Rome may fail to define good life and the moral obligation one has. Paul writes to the people of Rome thus his writings may fail to impact the moral life of human beings. Spiritual morality in this case fails to influence the lives of human beings across the universe.
The new covenant between God and human beings is well stipulated in the New Testament. The New Testament describes the life, death, and resurrection of life through events that articulate the new covenant. Throughout the life of Jesus Christ, events described showcase a somewhat different way of living as compared to the Jewish lifestyle. The fact that Jesus is the son of God who was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit shows the importance of this new covenant. Jesus’ life was one that was governed by parables and teachings. The new covenant as showcased through the life of Jesus was one where individuals would be forgiven of their sins through baptism. Baptism allowed for one to be reborn into a new relationship with God. The parables and teachings dictated that the new covenant would enhance harmony among the people of God. The new covenant would be one where individuals would have a personal relationship with God. Jesus’ actions throughout his life also showcased the new covenant where God was willing to establish a relationship with the wrongdoers of the society. Jesus’ death also showed the willingness of God to sacrifice his only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life. Jesus’ resurrection showcased the guarantee for eternal life within this new covenant. The new covenant as provided in the New Testament disregards the dictates of other covenants established between God and the Israelites in the Old Testament.
In conclusion, the new covenant described a different way of living prior to previous teachings. The new covenant showcased the willingness of God to establish a new relationship with human beings despite their wrongdoings. The new relationship would be established only if human beings agreed to abide by God’s laws and commandments. Both Paul and John in their letters and interpretations focused on teaching human beings how to live moral and ethical lives. God’s covenant with human beings is therefore established through the formation of a personal relationship between God and human beings. Christian ethics are morals provided and guided by the Biblical context. The new covenant dictates that human beings conduct themselves guided by spiritual morality. The covenant between God and human beings has always been conditional. For God to bless human beings, they ought to live and abide by the laws and commandments of God. The new covenant allowed the relationship between God and human beings to be universal. Therefore, the new covenant can be described as universal and conditional.