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FIRST FRUITS: IS IT A NEW

TEACHING OF THE COVENANT?

By Dr. Robert Munien

FIRSTFRUITS: IS IT A TEACHING OF THE NEW COVENANT?

Over the past 2 years, many of God's servants in South Africa have approached me for my views on
teaching the firstfruits. Personally, I did not understand firstfruits as an economic principle, except that I
have some understanding of the seven feasts of the Lord and the firstfruits as one of the feasts of the
Lord.

I called two friends who have been teaching on the firstfruits to get some material they could help me with,
for my own evaluation. They were kind enough to send me CD's and a document. The document was
titled: The Most Excellent Ministry of Giving, Apostolic Reform and Economic Principles of the Kingdom.
The writer borrows his title from one of the late Dr. Kelly Varner's books: “The Most Excellent Ministry.” In
that book, Dr. Varner deals with threefold things as the most excellent ministry of Jesus.
Dr. Varner was a preacher of Jesus. Again, the writer borrows ideas from Dr. Varner and shares eleven
examples. One of the examples he mentions: The three festivals of the Lord - Easter, Pentecost and
Tabernacles. The writer goes on to affirm the threefold construction and the nature of threefold things if
they are modeled according to the heavenly design in economics. Therefore, his conclusions: the three-
dimensional nature is Firstfruits, Tithes and Offerings. The writer states: If the principle of first fruits is not
practiced, then it is appropriate to conclude that the most excellent ministry of generosity is not functional.
However, the writer establishes the order of first fruits, tithes and offerings, this example cannot be found
in the New Testament as a model.

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Every time something new is taught, crowds gather. All types are attracted, those who don't participate
and those who enjoy the sound of a new idea. The chaos of our postmodern thinking and its proponents
of new revelation ignore the rules.

These are momentous days, genuine “revelation” knowledge is being poured out upon the global church
in this generation. We, like children, must not be carried away by every wind of doctrine.

Christians must know the basic rules; We must lay down the anchors of our faith and establish the
benchmarks that constitute the final court for any new teaching to be acceptable. The only possible way to
know what is right is to have some terms of reference, to have some authority by which we can test
various ideas that we hear.

A suggested term of reference is best described by the word “rationalism,” the ability of man to think and
formulate important intelligent inquiries. This does not mean that our teaching on spiritual matters is
correct. The teaching and revelation of man are unacceptable until they have been authenticated by the
word of God, by the use of hermeneutical tools (Science and art of Interpretation of Scripture) and
Apologetics (described as a defense).

This is my attempt to prove if the first fruit, epicenter and apostolic source is from the word of God. These are my
answers from the word of God.

Christians, who believe but do not know why, are insecure and it is an act of madness. The answer to this problem is for
believers to be informed in the doctrine, the history of their faith, the philosophy, the logic that relates to Christianity.
They need to be taught to know facts, arguments, theology, and understand how to engage culture effectively.

Christian apologetics is neither a new nor an unbiblical practice. It is the only model in the New Testament. The Greek
word, “apologia” from which we get our word apologetics, is used to describe a defense, such as a legal defense or a
case. The word is translated in the New Testament as defense or vindication. Acts 17:10-11

Acts 22:1
“Brothers and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”
NKJV

Phil 1:7
As it is fair for me to think this of all of you, that I have you in my heart, since both in my chains and in the defense and
confirmation of the gospel, all of you are partakers with me of grace.

NKJV

Phil 1:16
The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not with sincerity, thinking to add affliction to my chains;
NKJV

1 Peter 3:15-16
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you a
reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, so that when they slander you

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as evildoers, those who denigrate your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
NKJV

Jude 1:3
Beloved, being very diligent in writing to you about our common salvation, it has been necessary for me to write to you
exhorting you to contend ardently for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

NKJV

Believing in something without first seriously reflecting on it, investigating it, is not an act of faith, but nonsense.
The content of the faith is what must be investigated and then embraced or rejected.

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. NKJV

Hebrews 10:11

And every priest stands ministering daily and repeatedly offering the same sacrifices, which can never
take away sins.
NKJV

ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Paul voluntarily refused to accept support for his work given to the churches, however, Paul established an
economic system for New Testament ministries. Most people who subscribe to Paul's tent preference as a
doctrine for new covenant workers to live without the support of the local church are wrong. It was Paul's
personal position, later in his writings; He declares that he had done them an injustice by not accepting their
support. However, if one has to study the Scriptures constantly, one would find Paul supported.

Philippians 4:19

Because they gave to their need, pray for God to meet all their needs. The churches in Macedonia in the midst
of great trials, affliction and poverty, gave beyond their capacity.

THESE ARE SOME ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. Sowing and harvest time - 2 Corinthians 9:6-13

2. Cornelius prayed and gave alms and was remembered in the sight of God - Acts 10:31

2
3. Collection for the saints of Judeaÿ churches in associationÿ
Corinthians 8:19-20

4. The churches in Macedonia in the midst of great trials, affliction and poverty gave more than they could
to the men of God - 2 Corinthians 8:1-3

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5. Give to a man of God. - Philippians 4:14-19

6. Voluntary offerings. - 2 Corinthians 9:7

7. Tithe - Hebrews 7:8; 9:10

The tithe began before the law with Abraham. Instituted in the Law by Moses, therefore the tithe is
pre-law, during the law and after the law, New Covenant - Christ is Abraham's seed, we are Christ's
seed, therefore we are also Abraham's seed. Both Abraham and Melchizedek are Old Covenant
(before the law) and New Covenant people. Everything a believer owns belongs to God, the believer is
just a steward. The least a believer can give is a tithe.

8. One may have projects, for example, building, giving to the nations, or any other need that the local
church may need. Give to the poor saints. There are many other needs in local churches.

This is Paul's view of those who work for Christ and his financial support.

1 Corinthians 9:1-13

1 Timothy 5:17

a. Who goes to war on their own

expenses? b. Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit? c. EITHER
he cares for a flock and does not drink the milk? d. Don't muzzle the ox
while threshing. Are oxen what God is?
concerned about?
my. God says it's for our good
F. He who plows must plow with hope and he who treads with hope must share in his hope.
gram. If we have sown you spiritually, is it a big deal that we reap materially? He is the same apostle who
was a tent maker who put in the apostolic order, the support of the workers of the gospel. H. v 13 Do you
not know that those who minister holy things (word) eat of the things of the temple, those who serve at the
altar partake of the altar offering?

1. v 14 So also those who preach the gospel must live by the gospel, without anyone attributing blame to
it. j. Romans - Budget for the entire team to travel with Paul. k. Those who work in doctrine are worthy of
double honor.

THE TEACHING OF THE FIRSTFRUITS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Romans 8:23 - We have the firstfruits of the spirit eagerly awaiting the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Romans 11:16 - Both the firstfruits and the root represent the patriarch Abraham. Some branches that were
broken speaking of Jews and Gentiles are grafted into the Root. The church will include both Gentiles and Jews
in the Body of Christ. Ephesians 3:6

I personally cannot see the economy in the text or in the entire chapter. I encourage believers to be like those in

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Berean.

Romans 16:5 - Greet my beloved Epenetus who is the firstfruits of Achaia for Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ has risen from the dead, he has become the firstfruits.

V 23 ÿ Christ the fruits.

1 Corinthians 16:15 - The house of Stephanas who are the firstfruits of Achaia.

James 1:18 - We could be the firstfruits of his creatures.

Revelation 14:4 - Redeemed from among men being firstfruits to God and the Lamb.

In the book The Seven Feasts of the Messiah by Edward Chummey, he states (as adapted by Kevin J.
Conner's The Feasts of Israel p. 30) :

JESUS IS THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE BARLEY HARVEST

1. Jesus is the firstborn of Mary (Matthew 1:23-25)

2. Jesus is the firstborn of God the Father (Hebrews 1:6)
3. Jesus is the firstborn of every creature (Colossians 1:15)
4. Jesus is the firstborn from the dead (Revelation 1:5)
5. J esus is the firstborn of many brothers (Romans 8:29)
6. Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:20;23)
7. Jesus is the beginning of God's creation (Revelation 3:14)
8. Jesus is preeminent (Colossians 1:18)

The scriptures have been manipulated by the teachers for the case of first fruits. The above scriptures on
firstfruits attest to the fact that firstfruits cannot be interpreted as an economic principle.

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THE MEANING OF THE WORD PARTY IN THE BIBLE

Two important words appear in chapter 23 of Leviticus. The first Hebrew word is 'mo'ed', it means appointed, a fixed
time or season, a cycle or year, an assembly, a set or appointed fixed time. God has an appointed time with humanity to
fulfill certain events in redemption; It arrived at the exact moment. Galatians 4:2ÿ4

The second Hebrew word, 'jag', means a festival which means to move in circles, to march in a sacred procession, to
celebrate, to dance, to celebrate a solemn feast or festival.
The festivals had to be observed annually.

These are Feasts as found in the scriptures. These festivals of the Lord are divided into two portions. The spring
festivals and the autumn festivals. The purpose of the festivals is a model through which God reveals His plan of
redemption for both man and the earth. The author of the firstfruits document asks the question, “How do the teachings
of the Old Testament apply to the New Testament?”, a very fundamental question that I will attempt to answer. The
author claims that there is a prejudice against the Old Testament. My belief is that the Old Testament is the word of
God, but it must be interpreted in the context of the New Testament.

The problem lies in interpretation rather than prejudice, when men try to manipulate the Old Testament scriptures in
search of a doctrine that is not supported by the New Testament; It is in this case that people feel aggrieved because
his teachings are unacceptable.

THE FOUR FESTIVITIES OF SPRING

1. Easter
2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread 3. The

first fruits or the barley harvest 4. The

Feast of Weeks also known as Pentecost

THE AUTUMN FESTIVITIES

5. Rosh Hashanah: The blowing of the shofar 6. The Day of the

Atonement: The purification of Israel's sins 7. Tabernacles: entering the promised land

UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF THE HOLIDAYS

Leviticus 23

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Gentile believers in Colossae that the festivals of the Lord, the new moon, and the
Sabbaths were a shadow of what was to come, to teach us about the Messiah. Colossians 2:16-17. Jesus was and is
the substance or fulfillment

of the great plan that God revealed and predicted in these seven important festivals.

The festivals are God's festivals and His appointed days to celebrate them.
They were Holy Convocations for the seventh day and no work was to be done.

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Leviticus 23:1-4 1
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to the
children of Israel, and say to them: The solemn feasts of the Lord, which you will proclaim as holy
convocations, these are my feasts. . 3 "Six days we will work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn
rest, a holy convocation. You will do no work in it; It is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your rooms. 4
"These are the solemn festivals of the LORD, holy convocations that you will proclaim at their appointed
times.

NKJV

God gave the feasts to teach about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the empowerment of the
believer by the Holy Spirit, the resurrection of the dead, the exaltation of Christ.

We Gentiles are not Jews and therefore are not obligated to observe Jewish ceremonies. The Judaizers
wanted to combine the gospel of Christ with the observance of Jewish ceremonies, a practice that was
rejected by the Jerusalem Council.

Acts 15:1ÿ2
1 And some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised according
to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 Therefore, Paul and Barnabas having no little
dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them
should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this matter.

NKJV

We must have a Christ-centered message and paradigm. If Easter is salvation through Jesus, Pentecost
is baptism in the Holy Spirit, Tabernacles-in-gathering of the Harvest. If that is the rule we use to interpret
Scripture, then all festivals must be interpreted by the same standard of interpretation. Unless we begin in
the spirit and end in the flesh. The only object of our faith, devotion, love and affection is Jesus through
whom all the festivals are experienced.

EXAMPLES: BIBLICAL CASE STUDIES FOR THE PRACTICE OF FIRSTFRUITS (taken from the document
written by a brother in South Africa)

THE LEVITICAL SYSTEM IS NOT THE ECONOMY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. Abel gave the firstborn of his flock. The remarkable thing about Abel giving the firstborn is that it points
to Christ, who is the firstborn son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world. The firstborn is a
type A shadow, an example of what was to come: Christ. Abel offered the firstborn to the Lord, not to
man.

2. The twelve spies

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Numbers 13:20-29

First, God asked Moses to go take the land. He had given the land to the nation. Israel was afraid to
go because they heard about the enemy in that land, so they sent twelve spies. They presented the
firstfruits of the land to Moses and Aaron, which raised their level of faith to enter. They entered by
sight and not by faith.

3. Elijah and the widow of Zarephath.

1 Kings 17:8-15

v 13 - God speaks to the prophet Elijah that He (God) had sent a widow to provide for him. In verse
13, Elijah tells the woman to first make him a small cake and then make one for herself and her son.
the
The truth of the matter she did not give him everything but a first portion and something for herself and
her son. The prophet was not selfish, they shared their last meal. The principle illustrates that no
matter how little we have, it is in the liberation of the little we have that positions us for miracles.

7223 Hebrew word meaning first in time, place and rank. The same word used for Apostles being first
in the Greek. The big question is, did the prophet come first or the cake first? This was not
the first portion of the flour but the one that remained the least. Elijah the prophet said, make
me a cake first.

The writer claims that the first fruits belong to the priests. If the firstfruits belong to the priests, who would be the
priest in the New Testament?

I have one more objection to the brothers' inconsistent interpretation of the firstfruits. They begin by stating that
the construction of the First Fruits, the Tithe and the Offering as the heavenly pattern. However, his examples
given are inconsistent with the festivals of Israel.

CALCULATION OF FIRSTFRUITS (USED BY THE BROTHERS IN SA)

The firstfruits writers use additional biblical material.

The rabbis used to calculate the first fruits during Jesus' time on earth.

1/40 and 1/60 answered the rabbi 1/40 1/60 is equivalent to 2½ 1½ of the annual income.

Rabbis are not included in the canon of Scripture and therefore do not have the same authority. One's personal
formulas are also not part of the scriptures, therefore it is deceiving God's people and amounts to error. We
should not manipulate scripture for a case of our own doctrine that the word of God does not teach.

When New Testament believers are not obligated to keep the Jewish holiday, Jesus is the fulfillment of all
holidays.

Example given by advocates of scoops:

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If your income is R1000 pm or R12000 per year, then you give R250 at the beginning of the year. It is one
week's income and is 2% of your gross annual income.

• The first profit obtained in a commercial transaction

• The first salary received from a new job • The first
incremental increase in one's annual salary • First commission received

Those who teach firstfruits come to this conclusion because the rabbi said so, not the scriptures. How do they
arrive at this formula?

WHO IS THE WAREHOUSE HOUSE?

Our brothers affirm in their case of firstfruits that the Levites are the storehouse.
Let's take a look at the meaning of the word “storehouse” and the economy by which the Levites were governed.
Hebrews 7:11 – If perfection were through the Levitical Priesthood (Because under it the people received the
Law).

Nehemiah 12:44-47

The storehouse refers to a special treasury or chamber within the temple precinct, a storehouse. According to
Nehemiah 12:44, the priests and Levites had a specific portion prescribed by the law that was theirs. In Malachi
3, the people did not take the tithes to the treasury or chamber, so the Levites who ministered could not have
their share of the tithes released. I conclude that the Levites were never the storehouse. Let our brothers declare
that the Levites

where the shop house is a mistake again.

My first starting point for this teaching is that the feasts of the Lord are not three-dimensional but seven.
Therefore, my personal observation is that those who

They teach first fruits as a legalistic doctrine, they do not have hermeneutical, exegetical or apologetic tools,
therefore, they have to manipulate the scriptures to teach what they believe.

THE LAW, THE PENTATEUCH, THE PROPHETS AND ALL THE BOOKS CONTAINED IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT CONSTITUTE THE OLD COVENANT

The Law was given to the people of Israel, the Hebrew word translated commandments literally means a
message from God. (teach, instruct doctrine)
The primary Old Testament and New Testament words for Law, torah, and nomos have the same meaning.
Laws can be either positive, requiring certain actions, or negative, prohibiting certain actions.

The word torah includes much more: it means not only what to do, but also what to know. It represents divinely
revealed instruction, whether in the form of doctrine, exhortation, promise, or command.

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PENTATEUCH: The first five books of Moses

The law means more than the Ten Commandments. The entire Pentateuch, this is identified with the phrase,
"The Law and the Prophets."

Matthew 7:12
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
NKJV

Acts 13:15
And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent to them, saying: Men,
brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.

NKJV

Romans 3:21

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, witnessed by the law and the prophets,

NKJV

The righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed.

The first five books defended moral, judicial, ceremonial, and civil laws. The prophets that make up the rest of
the Old Testament within these sections are covenants and we come to understand the purpose and fulfillment
of the old covenant.

The Seven Covenants: Genesis 1

1. The Edenic Covenant - Genesis 1

2. The Adamic Covenant - Genesis 3
3. The Noahic Covenant - Genesis 8-9 4. The Pact of
Abraham - Genesis 12; 15:22 5. The Mosaic Covenant: Exodus
19:24; Deuteronomy 4ÿ5 6. The Palestinian Covenantÿ Deuteronomy 29:30 7. The Davidic Covenant
Isaiah 55:4

Seven is the number of completion and the New Covenant eight – new beginnings.

The Old Testament word for Covenant is Beriyth and means to cut off. The Lord Jesus was cut off at Calvary to
provide a new covenant. The Greek word for new covenant is “diatheke.” It has to do with the imposition of the
will of the Higher Being on the lower God on man. The Abrahamic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and the
New Covenant (New Testament) are interrelated. God confirmed the new covenant with an oath.

Psalm 110:4
The LORD has sworn

and will not regret it: "You

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you are a priest forever

according to the order of Melchizedek." NKJV

Hebrews 7:20-28
20 And because He was not made a priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath,
but He took an oath by Him who said to him:
"Jehovah has sworn
and will not regret it: 'You
you are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek' "), 22 therefore more
Jesus has become guarantor of a better pact. 23 There were also many priests, because death prevented him.
24 But he, because he remains forever, has an immutable priesthood. 25 Therefore he is also able to save to
the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, always living to make intercession for them. 26 For such
a high Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, innocent, blameless, separated from sinners, and made higher than
the heavens; 27 Who has no need every day, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices first for his own sins, and
then for the people, because he did this once for all, offering himself. 28 For the law constitutes as We make
weak men high priests, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, constitutes the Son who has been
perfected. forever .

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THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW

1. The law gives a symbolic atonement and forgiveness.

2. The law was given for the purpose of convincing man of his sin and awakening his confession of his need
for a new covenant and true redemption.

Rom 3:19-20 19

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may
be closed, and everyone may be guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the works of the law no flesh will be
justified before Him, because by the law is the knowledge of sin. NKJV

For by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Rom 5:19-20

Furthermore, he read it and entered it so that crime would abound. But where sin abounded, grace
abounded all the more, NKJV

Galatians 3:10

For all who are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not
continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.
NKJV

For those who act according to the law are under a curse.

Gal 3:23-24

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the custody of the law, kept for the faith that would later be
revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, so that we might be justified by faith.
NKJV

a. Under the protection of the law b.

The law was our tutor to lead us to Christ c. Are
justified by faith

3. The Jews considered the Gentiles to be sinners while they were exempt from condemnation. Paul rejects
this view. No one can claim justice by descent.

Romans 2:17

You are called a Jew, and you rest in the law, and you glory in God,
NKJV

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4. Both Jews and Gentiles are justified by faith in Christ. Paul emphasizes in Gal 2:16 that it is not by the
works of the law that we are justified before God, but by the finished work of Christ.

5. We must not put ourselves under the law but continue in our new life of faith in Christ.

Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live
in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

NKJV

WHAT WAS THE FUNCTION OF THE LAW

Galatians 3:24 By
Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, so that we might be justified by faith.

NKJV

The coming of Christ put an end to the law for both Jews and Gentiles.

Gal 3:8-9
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, gave the good news beforehand to
Abraham, saying: In you all nations will be blessed. 9 Therefore, those who are of faith are blessed with the
believing Abraham. NKJV

Both Gentiles and Jews are justified by faith.

a. The law functioned like a schoolteacher: it taught both Jews and Gentiles their sinfulness and need for a
Savior.

b. It worked from the time of Moses until the seed of Christ came.

Gal 3:19
So what is the law for? It was added because of transgressions, until the Seed to whom the promise
was made should come; and he was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
NKJV

c. The law kept the Jews under surveillance, they were kept in custody, they were kept prisoners. Actually,
the Greek word “phrouris” means to stand guard. Although the Jews were protected by the law,
however, they were also its prisoners.

Christ has freed us from the law and its effects. Christ achieved the perfection required by the law; He freed us
from the consequences of our disobedience.

Galatians 3:13
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse for us (for it is written, Cursed is everyone who
hangs on a tree),

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NKJV

• Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law

Gal 5:1
Stand firm, then, in the freedom with which Christ has made us free, and do not be subject again to the yoke of
bondage.
NKJV

• Remain in the freedom by which Christ made us free • We are warned not to become entangled again
with the yolk of bondage

THE TWO COVENANTS

There are two covenants: the old covenant and the new covenant. God speaks of these two covenants clearly in
the book of Jeremiah and Galatians.

Jeremiah 31:31-32 31
"Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with
the house of Judah; 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the
hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, since I was a husband to them, says
the LORD.

The Making of a New Covenant

Galatians 4:22-24
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: one by the slave woman, the other by the free woman. 23 But
the slave was born according to the flesh, and the free woman was born through the promise, 24 which are
symbolic. For these are the two covenants: that of Mount Sinai that gives light to bondage, which is Hagar-ÿ
NKJV

Free Women – Bound Women Two

children, one born according to the flesh, the other by the promise.
Two mountains: two women, two pacts

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Hebrews 8:6ÿ7, 10 6
But now he has attained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as he is also the mediator of a better
covenant, established on better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been without defect, no place would have been made available for the
second.

NKJV

1. Jesus obtained a more excellent ministry 2. He is

the mediator of a better covenant – without defect 3. Established on
best promises 4. The Lord put His laws in our minds 5. And he wrote them on our hearts, not two
tablets of stone

Hebrews 7:11-16 11
So, if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what more
need was there for another priest to be raised up according to the order of Melchizedek, and not to be
called according to the order of Aaron? 12 Because the priesthood is changed, the law is necessarily also
changed. 13 For he of whom these things are said is from another tribe, of which no one has officiated at
the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing about
the priesthood. 15 And it is even more evident if, like Melchizedek, another priest arises 16 who has
come, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of eternal life.

NKJV

1. The Levitical priesthood is imperfect; Under her the people received the law.
2. The priesthood being changed 3.
Change from law to grace

When Christ came, he abolished all those eternal ordinances. The Old Testament is the word of God.
What is hidden in the old is revealed in the new. We believers are not obligated to keep the ceremonial
aspects of the old covenant. The law, the ten commandments - Deuteronomy 4:3 - are enforced by
grace and mercy by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, not externally but internally. The Abrahamic and
Davidic covenant still stands because Christ is the seed of Abraham and the seed of David.
Now that we New Testament believers are not obligated to keep the ceremonial aspects of the Old
Testament, the calculations of the firstfruits have no basis to stand on the opinion, supposition, or
presumption of men. Personally, I have great difficulty reading the brother's conjectures about the
calculation with the use of the modern calendar year instead of the Jewish calendar year. The use of
rabbis are extra-biblical people and therefore not part of the canon of Scripture. He personally admits that
he can brag. It states that we should not be legalistic, but it gives us formulas on how to calculate, that is
legalisms, contradictions. Matthew 6:19-24 says brother, Jesus may be referring to the firstfruits. The
reader discerns that this is a neighbor, however, his work lacks Christ in its pages and does not deal with
absolutes.

sixteen
HOW DOES THE NEW COVENANT BELIEVER USE THE OLD TESTAMENT?

FIRST FRUIT: Is it a New Covenant teaching? For him

Dr. Robert Munien
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1. The Apostle Paul shows us how to use the New Testament.

a. Galatians 4: 1-4
law + A school teacher
law functioned as a guardian - until Christ came. The law was always intended to lead us to Christ.
b. Example: Greek Nouthesia: a thing shown as a specimen denotes an example given as a warning. 1
Corinthians 10:11
c. Warning: to administer correction of someone who creates problems in
church, correct by discipline. 1 Corinthians 10:11
d. Shadow: is an object projected in light. The shadow is not reality rather
the light is the New Testament. Hebrews 8:5
my. Copy: example of imitation, representation of a thing or figure, a
Copy. Hebrews 8:5

2. Paul declares that Christ is the end of the law.

Romans 10:4
For the end of the law is Christ for righteousness to everyone who believes.
NKJV

Christ is truly the completion and annihilation, also the end and perfection of it.

OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS PROHETICIZED OF THE NEW COVENANT

What Jeremiah prophesied - Jeremiah 31:31-34

what jesus said and and

Matthew 26:26-30; Galatians 4:4-5
and
What Paul taught and 1 Corinthians 11:23-27
What Hebrews teaches and
Hebrews 8:6ÿ13 / 10:15ÿ17 / 9:15

The New Covenant is a person - Jesus. Jesus confirmed the covenant by His blood.

a. Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. b. Jesus

He has an immutable priesthood. c. Live to intercede. d. He does not have to offer sacrifices daily, once and for all
He sacrificed His

own life.

THE FAILURE OF THE OLD COVENANT AND THE NEED FOR A NEW COVENANT THE MOST EXCELLENT
MINISTRY OF JESUS AND THE NEW COVENANT

3. Examples - 1 Corinthians 10:6; Hebrews 8:6-13

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The tabernacle, the high priest, the offerings and the sacrifices according to the law serve the figure
and shadow of heavenly things, Moses instructed.

4. It must point to Christ who fulfilled the law. If one wishes to keep the law, then he must keep the whole
law.

5. The best agreement is established on better promises.

6. The old covenant had defects, otherwise no place would have been sought for the second or new
covenant.

7. Days will come when the Lord will make a new covenant with Israel and Judah.

8. It would not be like the old covenant made with them after the exodus of
Egypt, that pact that Israel did not fulfill.

9. The very fact that God said He would make a new covenant implies that the first one has become old
and did not work. The law was good but man could not keep God's righteous laws.

10. The old covenant that has decayed and grown old is now ready to fade away.

11. The writer of the book of Hebrews 10:9 states that the first takes away the old covenant to establish
the second new covenant.

The first pact had its flaws, its imperfections. It has deteriorated and aged. It was about to disappear. It has been
replaced by the new and better covenant (Hebrews 7:22; 8:6).

Therefore, why should today's new covenant believers seek to return to that covenant that has decayed, grown
old, and faded away, when the new covenant is better and eternal in its duration?

Hebrews 13:10
We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.
NKJV

A ministration of the letter kills but the spirit gives life. The other ministry of the spirit gives life. The first century
believers and some apostles tried to mix the old and the new thus creating division and mixture, the result was
the confusion of the covenant.

Acts 10:11-15
11 and he saw heaven opened and an object like a large sheet tied at the four corners, descending toward him and
coming down to the ground. 12 In it were all kinds of four-legged animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and
birds of the air. 13 and

A voice came to him: Get up, Peter, kill and eat. 14 But Peter said, “No, Lord! Because I have never eaten
anything common or unclean." NKJV

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FIRST FRUIT: Is it a New Covenant teaching? By Dr.
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IS THE CHRISTIAN UNDER THE OLD MOSAIC COVENANT OR UNDER THE MESSIANIC COVENANT?

That is the fundamental problem. Unless we answer this question, the result will continue to be covenant
confusion. The scriptures teach that the believer individually and collectively is under the new covenant.

THE CROSS THE KEY

Apostolic doctrine with the cross

Galatians 6:14 More

Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to
me, and I to the world.
NKJV

Colossians 1:28 ÿ

Him we preach, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present
every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
NKJV

THE BEST COVENANT

The book of Hebrews speaks of “THE BEST COVENANT” which refers to the New Covenant. One of the key
words used in the book of Hebrews is the word best.
They all point to Jesus, who is instituted the best covenant by His blood. Jesus, the person, is the New
Covenant.

1. Jesus is better than the prophets- Hebrews 1:1-3 2. Jesus is better than angels - Hebrews 1:1-14;
2:1ÿ4 3. Jesus better than the first Adam Hebrews 2:5-18
4. Jesus better than Moses - Hebrews 3:1-6
5. Jesus better than Moses and Joshua - Hebrews 3:7-19; 4:1ÿ11 6. Jesus better than Aaron Hebrews
2:17-18; 4:12-17; 5:1-11 7. Jesus better than Abraham - Hebrews 5: 12-14; 6: 1ÿ20 8. Jesus better than the
Old Covenant Hebrews 8:1-13; 9:15-22
9. Jesus better than the earthly tabernacle - Hebrews 9:1-14; 23ÿ28 10. Jesus
better than animal sacrificeÿ Hebrews 10:1ÿ25 11. Jesus better than the heroes of faith Hebrews 10:19-38;
11:1-40; 12:1ÿ2 12. Jesus better than Jerusalem
earthly Hebrews 11:8-16; 12:22-23; 13:11ÿ14

The writer of the book of Hebrews also warns believers to leave and turn to Christ.
• natural for the spiritual • earthly for the heavenly • temporal for the eternal • human for the divine •
shadow for the substance • type for the reality • good for the best • the
old for the new found in the Lord Jesus

Therefore, what the Lord has taken away, let no carnal man restore. Christ and the New Covenant are better.
Let us teach the last Adam Christ and not the first Adam who was taken away.

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John 1:17 17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

NKJV

APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE

What I have heard as apostolic doctrine from some apostles in SA:

Facts
2:42 And they continued in the doctrine of the apostles and in the fellowship, in the breaking of
bread and in the prayers.
NKJV

1. They have continued firmly in the doctrine of the apostles 2.

Communion 3. Breaking of bread 4. and in prayer

A group of brothers in SA teach this verse out of context. First of all, they teach that this verse is apostolic
doctrine and is a code. Secondly, the order of this verse is the doctrine of the apostles and must be first,
fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer, this is the order of the apostolic doctrine they affirm...which
means you cannot pray before share apostolic doctrine. In addition to this, these four principles constitute
the apostolic doctrine. Many students of the word will agree with me that using a scripture verse out of
context is dangerous. Peter begins to teach apostolic doctrine after the day of Pentecost. In chapter two
of Acts, Peter taught apostolic doctrine. This was the secret of the success of the early believers. Peter
stood before the Jewish nation and preached; First the good news focuses on the crucifixion, death,
burial, resurrection, ascension, glorification, exaltation and return of the Lord Jesus Christ. First century
believers were focused on the life of our Lord Jesus Christ = Immanuel God with us. The apostles
preached from the Old Testament, not from the law, ceremonies, festivals and external observances.
They preached Jesus of the Old Testament as the Messiah of the world.

They preached what they observed from the life of Jesus and obeyed His command to teach what they
were taught.

There are many great doctrines in the word of God besides those I have pointed out. Hebrews: 6:1ÿ2 –
The doctrine of the word of God, Holy Spirit, Angels, Satan and Demonology, The sin of man, The
atonement of Christ, Eschatology. 2 Timothy 3:16

The word 'doctrine' means something taught, teaching, instructions, principles of religion that are taught
to teach substance, systems of knowledge from God for application in daily life.

Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am
with you always, to the end of the world." Amen. NKJV

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Acts 2:23-36
23 This one, delivered for the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you captured by the hands of
wicked men, crucified him, and killed him; 24 whom God raised up, having released the pains of death, because
it was not possible for Him to be held by it. 25 For David says about Him: 'I always saw the LORD before my
face, For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be moved. 26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue
was glad; Furthermore, my flesh will also rest in hope. 27 For you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will you
allow your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will fill me with joy
in Your presence.' 29 "Men and brothers, let me speak frankly to you about the patriarch David, who is dead and
buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with
an oath that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31
foreseeing this, he spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul would not be left in Hades 32 This
Jesus God raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore, being exalted by the right hand of God, and
having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured out this which you now see and hear.
34 For David did not ascend to heaven, but he himself said, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, 35
Until I make your enemies your footstool. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know surely that God has made
this Jesus, whom you crucified, Lord and Christ. "t." NIV

The apostles of the first century did not have the New Testament in writing. They used the Old Testament as a
reference point. The Apostles of the Lamb and the believers who were eyewitnesses taught what Jesus did and
instructed them to do. Matthew 28:19-20.

WHO IS MELCHIZEDEC?

Genesis 14:18-20 18
Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of the Most High God. 19 And
he blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, creator of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed
be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand."

And he gave him a tithe of everything.

NKJV

The book of Genesis teaches us:

He is king of Salem, and was a priest of the Most High God. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.

• Psalms 110:4
The LORD has sworn and has not
will repent: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." NKJV

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Many scholars believe that this prophetic scripture points to Jesus, who is a priest according to the order
of Melchizedek forever.

• The name Melchizedek means King of justice and King of peace.

Hebrews 7:3
Without father, without mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life,
but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. NKJV

• Hebrews 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 teach of Melchizedek's ministry as a high priest.

• He is made like the son of God. He has no genealogy or ancestry, speaking of his ministry as
timeless. • In Gen 14 he brings wine and bread to Abraham talking about

communion prophetically.
• Simply Jesus is Melchizedek; He is our high priest forever, timeless and eternal. E.g. Since
Aaron was the high priest, the Levites and priests served the people under Aaron. So are all
believers' (the priesthood of all believers) •
Jesus our high priest according to the order of Melchizedek, ministry of a priest king - so are we
believers.' 1 Peter 2:9 – We are a royal priesthood to Jesus.

Some Apostles are teaching that they are our Melchizedek, therefore they claim that their Apostle is their
source, this is incorrect. The Bible does not teach that, the scriptures teach that the apostles are the
equippers, the teachers and the wise architects of the church.
God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit who illuminates the scriptures are our source. The error in this
teaching, who is your Melchizedek pay your tithe to him or rent to a father paying your tithes - Heb 7:8.
The five ministries are a resource for the body, Jesus is my Melchizedek. Surely we are not defending the
papal system, that the apostles are the source for interpreting the scriptures. It proclaims the priesthood of
all believers, not the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and Balaam. This teaching keeps believers dependent on
their apostles. This is legalism and slavery.

In conclusion, why do men teach only one aspect of Melchizedek? Why not equip believers with tools and
make the Bible the source of our teaching? Each

the believer has access to the word of God, the Holy Spirit and every believer is a priest (The
priesthood of all believers).

After careful research of the New Testament and analysis of all the texts used by the author of the
document, which lacks exegetics and Christology, I conclude, therefore, that firstfruits are not an
economic principle of the new covenant, period.

The conclusive evidence of the New Testament is that we, New Covenant believers, are not
obligated to practice the Jewish Feasts, ceremonies, and laws. Therefore, the First Fruits practice is
obsolete. However, if any believer determines in his heart that he would like to give his first
paycheck to the ministry or any other voluntary offering because of God's goodness and grace, he
should certainly give without compulsion or a law of man.

FIRST FRUIT: Is it a New Covenant teaching? 2

By Dr. Robert Munien 1
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“Do not accept traditions or doctrines of men but the clear words of Jesus and the
Apostles” (Author unknown)

FIRST FRUIT: Is it a New Covenant teaching? 2

By Dr. Robert Munien 2