Category Archives: Covenant

Empty rural road with 'No Return' sign on the side
Bible, Covenant, Irrevocable, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

IRREVOCABLE

ROMANS 11:29

“for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

When I hear the word “irrevocable” I think about a legal contract. Those come in all forms and have different components. One kind is an irrevocable trust which is defined as “a legal arrangement where the grantor permanently transfers ownership of assets to a trust, managed by a trustee for beneficiaries, which cannot be easily changed or terminated.” This is meant to be a permanent arrangement.

Paul uses the Greek word ametamelétos here and one other time in 2 Corinthians 7:10. It is not used anywhere else in the New Testament. The word comes “from a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of metamellomai (change of heart or mind); irrevocable — without repentance, not to be repented of.” Another source I looked at said, “The adjective conveys an unalterable state—an action, decision, or outcome that will never be rescinded or lamented. In Scripture it serves to highlight either the unwavering character of God’s purposes or the settled peace that accompanies genuine repentance.”

APPLICATION

The use of it in 2 Corinthians 7:10 really applies to us. Just look at what Paul writes here. “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” Our repentance for salvation is a one-time event that cannot be revoked. Isn’t that amazing? Just as His covenant with Israel is irrevocable, so is His covenant with us. Hallelujah!

God is not some fickle god who changes his mind whenever he wants. God knows exactly what He is doing and why He is doing it. He doesn’t have to rethink His decisions or actions. Everything He does is irrevocable because He is just and holy. Because He is those things, we can trust Him to never abandon us or cast us aside.

You may have entered into some agreements which you thought were irrevocable. Take marriage, for instance. What God designed to last a lifetime often ends in divorce. No agreement that is manmade is irrevocable. Only God’s agreements are. Have you entered in that agreement with Him? He promises to always be with you and protect you. He will see you through those hard times He allows to make you more like His Son. Trust His irrevocability!

I am eternally thankful that my covenant with You is binding forever.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Woman mentoring a man with notebook in office corridor
Arrogance, Bible, Covenant, Gentiles, Israel, Romans, Scripture

ARROGANCE

ROMANS 11:18

“do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.”

When my wife first met me back in 1985, she thought I was arrogant. Can you believe that? Me? Arrogant? I have to admit that I could come across that way. I was pretty self-confident, but I never saw myself as arrogant. That’s the problem with arrogance. You never really see yourself that way, but others can sure see it. Obviously, my wife learned that I wasn’t arrogant. She agreed to marry me after our third date! We celebrated 40 years of marital bliss last December.

Paul issues a warning to the Gentiles in verse 18 of Romans 11. Obviously, there were some Gentiles who thought themselves better than the Jews since God had now offered them this covenant relationship. They were the “replacements.” Not so quick. Paul reminds them that they are just the branches which God has engrafted (see yesterday’s blog) into the root. What did Paul mean by the use of the word “arrogant”?

APPLICATION

Katakauchaomai is the Greek word translated as “arrogant.” It is only used four times in the New Testament, two of those times in this verse. It means to “boast down, over-exalting one thing at the expense of another which results in wrong conclusions – i.e. that unjustifiably downgrade by boasting with a sense of false superiority.” (HELPS Word-studies) Think of someone who looks down their nose at you. They are puffed up.

The word is used twice in James. In James 2:13 we read, “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” Wait a minute, Carl. I thought you said this word didn’t mean anything good. Let me explain. The literal translation of katakauchaomai means “to boast against.” Someone once said, “It’s not arrogance if you can do what you say.” Mercy is above judgment. God has proven this fact in our lives. He is able to show this.

The last time katakauchaomai is used is in James 3:14. “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.” We can see here the danger of arrogance as it links arms with jealousy and selfishness and lying. Not good company. So, arrogance has no place in a believer’s life. Christ taught us to be humble and then He will exalt us. Practice that today.

Lord, help me shed any pretense of arrogance in my life and show humility instead.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Plate of freshly baked golden biscuits with steam rising, coffee mug, bowls of butter and jam
Bible, Covenant, Israel, Jesus, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

HOLY LUMP

ROMANS 11:16

“If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are as well.”

Don’t you just love that word “lump”? When I hear it, I think about the lump of dough my mama would have on the kitchen table when she made homemade biscuits. Boy, were her biscuits good. She would mix up the flour and buttermilk, a little shortening and a couple of eggs. Her biscuits were so fluffy on the inside, but crispy on the outside. Excuse me while I wipe my mouth, lol. Every bit of that lump was good, whether it was used to make a little biscuit or a “cathead” biscuit (look that up).

As Paul looks toward the redemption of his nation Israel, he makes this statement today about their future. He refers back to Abraham and the covenant guidelines of offering to God the first fruits. He uses the terms “lump” and “branches” to describe the people of Israel with the belief that they will be ushered in one day to the kingdom when they surrender to the Lord fully, just as Abraham had covenanted with God at the outset of the nation. Matthew Poole’s Commentary says, “Here is another argument to prove the Jews are not finally rejected, because of the covenant made with their fathers…by lump, and branches, he means the people of the Jews that descended of these holy patriarchs, and spring from them, as branches from a root.”

APPLICATION

Even Peter said these words to his people during his second sermon in Acts 3:25. “It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’” The purpose God had given the Jews was to make his salvation known among the nations. That was done through His Son, Jesus Christ, born a Jew to fulfill this prophecy.

So, how does this apply to us today. Over in 1 Corinthians 5:6-7, Paul uses that word for “lump” again. This time pointing out a different thought. “6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.” What does that mean? Just as one good lump can influence the whole, one bad lump can as well.

Are you a good lump or a bad lump? All the molecules of my mama’s biscuit dough came together to produce a truly delicious product. Each molecule did its job without worrying about what the other one was doing. They were all there to make biscuits. (Hungry yet?) We, as followers of Christ, must come together to make disciples who make disciples. Stop worrying about what the Methodists or Baptists or Pentecostals are doing. Just do your part, be the lump!

Thank You, Father, for allowing me to be a part of the whole lump and spread Your message.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Wooden sign with the word MOTIVATION on a forest hiking trail.
Bible, Covenant, Gentiles, Israel, Jealousy, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

MOVED TO JEALOUSY

ROMANS 11:14

“if somehow I may move my own people to jealousy and save some of them.”

I had the privilege to supervise a lot of people through my ministry career. Some were easier than others, lol. But I always tried to motivate my people to do their best. One way was to never ask them to do something I wasn’t willing to do myself. I would get right there in with them. Motivation is a learned skill, I believe. You have to know what motivates a person. For some, it’s money. Others need words of encouragement. Find what motivates those around you and practice it.

Paul was doing just that. He was trying to motivate the Jews who had rejected Jesus to turn to him by showing them from Scripture the warnings. Here is how Albert Barnes explains Paul statement “I may move my own people to jealousy.” “I may awaken up to zeal, or to an earnest desire to obtain the like blessings. This was in accordance with the prediction of Moses, that the calling in of the Gentiles would excite their attention, and provoke them to deep feeling. The apostle expected to do this by calling their attention to the ancient prophecies; by alarming their fears about their own danger; and by showing them the great privileges which Gentiles might enjoy under the gospel; thus appealing to them by every principle of benevolence, by all their regard for God and man, to excite them to seek the same blessings.” Would that have motivated you?

APPLICATION

The Greek word translated as “move…to jealousy” is parazéloó which comes from para (alongside) and zeloo (boil over with desire). It means “to apply heavy (‘hot’) pressure to provoke change, especially in an ‘up-close-and-personal’ way.” (HELPS Word-studies) Paul was not shying away from the Jews. He was figuratively “up in their face” trying to get them to respond.

Now don’t think Paul was trying to incite the Jews to something that was evil. We often think of jealousy in a negative way, and it is often used that way. But here Paul is trying to get them to return to a relationship with a holy God Who has offered His own Son for them, as well as the Gentiles. The Topical Lexicon says, this “jealousy is not petty envy but the righteous passion of a covenant partner who demands fidelity.”

I am jealous for my wife. I do not want other men to look at her in the wrong way. I am protecting my covenant relationship with her against all others. How far would I go to do that? As far as I had to. I am, after all, her protector. Jealousy isn’t all bad. You have to look at the context of the situation. Here in today’s verse, Paul wants the Jews to get jealous for the relationship which the Gentiles now have with Jesus. He wants them to return to God and their own covenant relationship as a nation which now rests in Jesus. Are you jealous for Him?

Father, I desire to know You more and more and want others to know You as well.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Adv, Advantage, Benefit, Bible, Covenant, Faithfulness, Promises, Scripture

HAVING THE UPPERHAND

ROMANS 3:1

“Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?” 

Membership has its privileges. I fly most often with one airline. As part of my membership program with them, I can access their lounges around the world when I have a long layover. Some of those lounges are awesome, complete with massaging chairs and free food and drinks. That can really help the time pass more comfortably. I almost (I said almost) feel sorry for those who can’t get in there, lol.

Paul has just finished a long discussion with the Jews in chapter two and he starts out chapter three (I realize there were no chapters in the original) asking two questions about the Jews’ advantage and benefit over the Gentiles. He is really pointing towards the covenant that God had made with the Jews to be with them and love them. They most definitely had seen God’s faithfulness to them over the centuries. But now?

APPLICATION

There are two words in today’s verse that bear a look. The first one is translated “advantage” and is the Greek word perissos. It can have a lot of meanings including exceeding abundantly above, beyond measure and superfluous. It’s actually the word used in John 10:10 where Jesus says, “‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.’” So, is Paul asking what abundance the Jew has over the Gentile?

The second word to look at is ópheleia which is translated “benefit.” It’s only used here and in Jude 1:16 where it says, “These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.” The word has the idea of profit or usefulness. Is Paul asking here if it profits the Jew to be Jewish compared to being a Gentile?

Let me answer these two questions by pointing you to Paul’s words in Galatians 3:28. “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.” There’s your answer! We “are all one in Christ Jesus.” Our upper hand is Jesus. He is all that matters. Won’t you open that “lounge door” for others today and show them Who can give them an eternal membership?

I am so thankful, Lord, that You have welcomed me into Your eternal lounge.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Circumcision, Covenant, Holy Spirit, Indwelling, Law, Obedience, Scripture

IT’S NOT THE OUTSIDE THAT MATTERS

ROMANS 2:25

“For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a violator of the Law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision.” 

So many Christians work and work and work to try to achieve some measure of grace from God. If they do this or that; or if they don’t do this or that then they have accomplished something. Wrong! I knew a guy in seminary who refused to go out to eat on Sundays because it forced someone to work to prepare his food and serve him. I don’t criticize his devotion to resting on Sunday, but nothing he did or didn’t do would change the fact that those people were still going to work. Maybe they even had to in order to keep their jobs.

Paul dives into a subject that was well…tender to the Jews. They took pride in the fact that their physical circumcision set them apart from the pagans. This was a law that began with Abraham and was to be a distinguishing mark of their covenant with God to obey His commandments. So, just being circumcised didn’t do a thing for the Jews. Paul says if they violated the Law, it meant nothing.

APPLICATION

Albert Barnes gives these remarks about this verse. “No external advantages, no name, or rite, or ceremony will save you. God requires the obedience of the heart and of the life. Where there is a disposition to render that, there is an advantage in possessing the external means of grace. Where that is missing, no rite or profession can save.” No external advantage. You can’t cut your hair short enough. You can’t wear your dress long enough.

What are you doing to try to gain God’s love? Most of us think if we do certain things, we will be more spiritual. What makes us spiritual? It’s the Spirit of God in us. When we come to Christ and receive His gift of grace, He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within you. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul tells us, “19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

Did you catch that? Your body is holy not because of something you do or don’t do. You are holy because God’s very Spirit dwells within you. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! As the old preacher said, “That’s shouting ground stuff!” Are you resting in the Spirit instead of trying to achieve something for God? He loves you, no matter what you do or don’t do. Yes, we should all try to obey His commands. But God loves you – period!

Father, I am so thankful that I can rest in knowing my salvation does not depend on one single thing I do or don’t do. It rests in Jesus.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Beloved, Bible, Calvary, Covenant, Love, Scripture

BELOVED OF GOD

ROMANS 1:7

“to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Okay, be honest. Have you ever called someone “your beloved”? It’s not a word we throw around a lot. I mean, we know what it means, and we probably have people we would consider our beloveds, but we just don’t go around saying that. It sounds so biblical, doesn’t it? Well, it is. Let’s take a look.

In today’s verse, Paul uses the Greek word for “beloved” which is used over 60 times in the New Testament. I love what the Topical Lexicon said about this word. “The church lives, serves, suffers, and hopes as the ‘beloved of God.’” Yep, that’s us, isn’t it? We are His beloved. It’s an intimate word. It comes from the word used by God when He says He loves us (John 3:16). It’s a deep, personal love for another.

APPLICATION

In Matthew 3:17 we read, “…and behold, a voice from the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” God used the same word to describe His Son. This belovedness (yes, I just made that word up) began in the Trinity and was passed down to us so that we can pass it on to others. It’s not a thing to hold tightly. The more you share this belovedness, the more it grows.

We see this same word used by the half-brother of Jesus in Jude 3. “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints.” In many of the New Testament books “beloved” is used to attract the reader’s attention before giving a command or a warning.

So, look around, beloved. Who are your beloveds? To whom can you show the kind of love God showed to you on Calvary? You have this love in you as His beloved. He expects you to treat others the same. I dare you next Sunday to go up to someone at church and greet them by saying, “Hello, beloved. So good to see you.” You may get a strange look from them. Then tell them why you said it. You may both leave feeling more beloved.

Father, I know I am Your beloved. Help me love others the same.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Circumcision, Covenant, Relationships, Salvation, Scripture

THE TRUE CIRCUMCISION

COLOSSIANS 2:11

“and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,”

Circumcision isn’t exactly dinner talk, is it? It’s a routine procedure done on most male babies. I do not need to go into detail about what is done. I am sure you know about it. The decision to circumcise a baby boy belongs with the parents. They decide whether or not to allow the doctor to perform the procedure. The baby has no say in the matter. If they did, they would all probably say “no.” lol

Paul is not talking a physical circumcision for believers but is using it as an analogy. The Greek world was well aware of the act of circumcision, even though many of them had not been circumcised. The Jewish ritual of circumcision was an external mark on all male Jewish babies to signify the covenant they had with Jehovah. Jesus fulfilled all our covenant requirements, negating the necessity for a physical circumcision. Instead, our mark of covenant is on our hearts.

APPLICATION

In Romans 2:25-29, Paul gives a more complete discussion of this topic. “25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a violator of the Law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator of the Law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.”

I know that was a lengthy passage but hang in there. There is nothing we can do outwardly to “cut covenant” with Christ. Our covenant is of the heart. Our surrender and our identification with Christ is internal and eternal. No one can command you to do a specific act to guarantee your salvation. It is strictly through Jesus.

Whether you are male or female, circumcised or uncircumcised, your salvation is totally dependent on your personal relationship with Jesus. Make sure your heart has the mark of spiritual circumcision which Jesus places there upon your salvation. That is the true circumcision.

Father, thank You for circumcising my heart and making me Yours.

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Abundance, Bible, Blessing, Covenant, God's Will, Mercy, Riches, Scripture

RICH IN MERCY

EPHESIANS 2:4

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,” 

I doubt I will ever be independently wealthy in the eyes of the world. I mean, my wife and I live comfortably, but we aren’t going to retire on the French Rivera, lol. Being rich or wealthy means different things to different people. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 give us a warning about money. “9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

In contrast, Paul says in today’s verse that God’s wealth is a good thing. He is “rich in mercy.” God’s wealth will never run out. His riches are limitless. So, if He is rich in mercy, that means His mercy will never run out. Lamentations 3:22 says, “The LORD’S acts of mercy indeed do not end, For His compassions do not fail.” They do not fail!

APPLICATION

Does that give us permission to do whatever we want? No way! It does give us permission to do as we should. Love should be a driving motivator. 1 Peter 1:3 shows us the benefit of His mercy. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” It is His great mercy that gives us that new birth.

Hebrews 4:16 gives us another reason to look for His mercy. “Therefore, let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.” His mercy is waiting for us to come to Him during those times when we need Him most. Have you needed Him lately?

In similar words as our verse today, Paul says this in Titus 3:5-6. “5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,” His mercy is not given because we deserve it. He just gives it! Do you need some mercy today? Come to the Father.

Lord, have mercy on me today. Show me Your mercy all the day long. 

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Allegiance, Bible, Circumcision, Covenant, Faith, God's Will, Grace, Heart, Rescue, Salvation, Scripture

ALL OR NOTHING

GALATIANS 5:3

“And I testify again to every man who has himself circumcised, that he is obligated to keep the whole Law.”

A common cheer or motto among team sports is “All for one and one for all.” That implies that if one falls, they all fall. It means they must all stick together. The team has to stick together and is stronger together than separate. That is a good thing. However, our verse today is talking about a negative side of that “all for one” mentality.

Circumcision was the distinguishing mark of Jews. Since Abraham, this has been done to the male children. It was and still is a physical sign of allegiance to God for them. This rite was being forced on the Gentile believers in Galatia. There were Jewish believers who believed that they had to continue to follow the Mosaic laws, which included circumcision. Paul correctly points out that if they were going to keep this one law, they should keep them all (which was and still is impossible). Circumcision was not bad. It just did not prove their faith.

APPLICATION

What are the things in your life that you do to show you are saved? I bet it is that big Bible you carry to church each Sunday. Perhaps it is the way you wear your hair or refrain from alcohol. You wear these as a badge of honor to prove your faith. Like circumcision, there is nothing wrong with a big Bible, short hair or not drinking, but none of those things will save you.

Jesus told the Pharisees in Matthew 22:25-26, “‘25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may also become clean.’” This still applies to us today. It’s not about what the world sees we are doing. It’s all about our heart. We cannot keep all the laws and we cannot keep all the traditions. We will fail.

I have met lots of people who have said, “I could never become a Christian. I am too bad. God could never forgive me.” That is exactly why they need a Savior. There is nothing we can do to gain His favor. We can’t be good enough. That is what Paul is saying to the Galatians, and that is what is still true for us today. All we need is Jesus. Let’s make our motto “All to One.” How about that?

O Lord, thank You for rescuing me and always being there for me. I give You my all.

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