08 February 2025
It's a very popular doctrine, particularly among various Charismatic groups, that all of the Old Testament promises are ours today in Christ. That's a half-truth. Those promises apply to the Covenant, not just those who claim Him as Savior. If He isn't your Lord, as well, those promises are not yours to claim.
Take a look at the whole context where those promises appear. For example, Exodus 23:20-33. Most people are familiar with the promise that God will dispossess the enemies and drive them out little by little. It's great that people understand you must not only seize the land, but you must occupy it -- render it for God's covenant use. What they don't understand nearly so well is that following Christ is a covenant; you must swear allegiance to Him alone. Without that feudal submission, you would make verbal confessions of claiming those promises in vain.
Thus, in that passage Jehovah warns His Covenant People not to defile themselves with serving any other deity. That includes Mammon.
Most people do understand that these things are symbolic; the "land" we are claiming is our individual lives. They get that, but then they confuse the issue by taking some parts of the promises literally. Mixing the meanings is a gave error. If you are going to take the command to conquer and occupy in a symbolic meaning, then the blessings are also symbolic. Thus, the health and prosperity are in your soul.
If you want to claim those promises more literally, then you must obey more literally. I'm not saying the promises don't work that way, but that a literal fulfillment hinges on a literal application of the commands. You want material wealth? Form a literal covenant nation; live in an extended family household. Share your property as family. Ensure your leadership are shepherd males, etc. Do you not realize that Satan can mock all of this stuff and deliver temporary wealth and comfort on his terms? If you chase the prosperity gospel, which is a perversion of the covenant promises, you are not receiving the bounty from God. You are receiving things that will be a snare to your soul.
You can certainly have both together, but don't twist the meaning of Scripture to pursue what satisfies your flesh. Your spirit doesn't care about material wealth. Keep clear the distinction and how the two different realms of existence work with each other.
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