Law of Consent (1 of 1)

Lesson 3

Consent from a rel igious perspect ive 3.1 God only relates to People who consent through covenants!

God is a gentleman. He only relates to His people by consensually contracting with them. These contracts are called "covenants" in the Bible. Contracts are civil agreements. Covenants are religious agreements. And contracts...by definition...always have conditions that are binding on both parties The entire Bible, in fact, describes the eternal covenant between God and His followers. It tells the history of all the consequences of both obeying and disobeying that covenant. The disobedience began when Eve ate the fruit and thereby violated the covenant. See Genesis 3. The consequence of that disobedience was separation from God by being kicked out of the Garden. There are four elements to all covenants or contracts:

1. Mutual exchange of lawful benefits. 2. Explicit conditions of performance binding on both parties. Requirement for Consent 3. Both parties act freely without duress. 4. There is a penalty clause for failing to fulfill the conditions of the contract.

The fundamental element in the religious contract with God is the exchange of benefits. When benefits are offered and accepted ...obligations are incurred and a contract goes live and online (so to speak).The covenant with God puts our relationship to God on a sound rational basis...as opposed to only a mystical basis. We cannot merely believe or pray to be in God's good graces...under the covenant we know God's will...we know what we have to do. And we know what the penalty will be if we don't fulfill the conditions of the contract. Failing to live up to the conditions of our contract with God is sin. And it activates the penalty clause. When God applies the penalty for breaking our contract with him...he is not acting without mercy. He must apply the penalty clause because...Both parties must act and fulfill the agreed upon conditions of the contract. Even God must act according to his covenant promises. Read Psalm 44...not as a prayer...because it is not a prayer...it is a covenant story. And in that psalm the Israelites...politely but firmly...inform God that he has always been quick to fulfill his covenant promises...but now he is slow to perform under the contract...even though the Israelites are holding to their part of the agreement. They ask God why he is asleep...then they demand that he awake and arise and do as he promised. Look at some of the early covenants God made with His people in the Bible:

1. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. 2. Story of Noah and the flood. 3. Father Abraham. 4. Moses and the Ten Commandments.

You see all of the elements that define a contract in these covenants. Those who hold fast to the idea that God loves them unconditionally do not know the Scriptures. When the rich man asks Jesus how to obtain eternal life (Mt 19:16ff) Jesus tells him to keep the Commandments. The Commandments are the covenant conditions for getting to heaven and eternal life. The Mosaic covenant between God and his people underlies the salvation promised in The New Testament. This point is made elaborately in the gospel of John...

1. If you love me you will keep my commandments (Jn 14:15)... 2. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me (Jn 14:21)... 3. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words (Jn 14:24)

No one can read those words and hold that there are no conditions on the loving relationship between God and his people. And the loving part of the contract...the covenant relationship...is that God binds himself to perform as agreed. We can trust him. If people's contracts with God are in default none of their good works will save them (Mt 7:21ff). God has promised. So...those in ministry who help form and direct the spiritual lives of the people always need to ask: "Do you keep the Commandments?" Requirement for Consent 12