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CONTRACTS ARE A PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE, EVEN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE. THEY BIND TWO OR MORE PARTIES TOGETHER IN A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL. PERHAPS YOU HAVE NOT CONSIDERED YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS A CONTRACT, BUT IT IS. GOD DOES NOT MAKE PROMISES TO PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT ACCEPT A CONTRACTURAL AGREEMENT WITH HIM. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD HIM, HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD YOU. CONSIDER THIS DESCRIPTION OF A CONTRACT:
1) LEGALLY BINDS TWO OR MORE PARTIES POSSESSING THE LEGAL CAPACITY TO ENTER INTO THE AGREEMENT. LEGAL CAPACITY MEANS THAT THE PARTIES ARE MATURE AND ARE NOT UNDER ANY MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY THAT DIMINISHES OR IMPAIRS THEIR CAPACITY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT.
2) THERE MUST BE MUTUAL ASSENT TO THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, THAT IS, A MEETING OF THE MINDS ON ALL ESSENTIAL TERMS.
3) THERE MUST BE A CONSIDERATION. IT IS QUID PRO QUO, AN EXCHANGE OF VALUE FOR THE MUTUAL PROMISES OF THE PARTIES. IT BENEFITS ALL SIDES NOW AND UPON FULFILLMENT OF THE CONTRACT.
4) THE CONTRACT MUST BE SEALED TO BE VALID. WHEN IT IS SEALED IT IS MADE IMMUTABLE UNTIL IT IS FULFILLED. IN OUR OWN CULTURE, CONTRACTS CAN BE SEALED BY NOTARY PUBLICS.
THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM WAS SEALED WITH CIRCUMCISION. THE LAW OF MOSES WAS SEALED WITH CIRCUMCISION. THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS SEALED BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. (NOTE: THE GOSPEL IS SEALED, cf. HEBREWS 9: 20-22; AND IS IMMUTABLE, JOHN 67: 27; 2 CORINTHIANS 1: 22; EPHESIANS 1: 13; 4: 30).
5) IT MUST BE ENFORCEABLE BY LAW FOR IT TO HAVE AUTHORITY TO OBLIGATE.
6) IT MUST HAVE LEGALLY BINDING AUTHORITY TO PENALIZE IF THE TERMS ARE VIOLATED.
7) IT WILL CONTAIN A TIME LIMIT OR TIME FRAME WITHIN WHICH THE CONTRACT IS EFFECTIVE.
8) THE CONTRACT MAY CONTAIN TERMS OF REDEMPTION SHOULD THE CONTRACT BE VIOLATED.
CONTRACTS WITH GOD ARE CALLED COVENANTS OR LAWS. COMPARE THE FOLLOWING COVENANTS AND EXAMINE IT FOR YOURSELF:
1) ADAM, (EVEN THOUGH THE EDEN LAWS ARE NOT CALLED A COVENANT, ALL THE ELEMENTS ARE THERE).
2) NOAH, GENESIS 9:9-16.
3) ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB, GENESIS 15:18; 17:2-21; EXODUS 2: 24.
4) MOSES, EXODUS 19: 5; 24: 8; HEBREWS 9: 1.
5) PHINEHAS, (GRANDSON OF AARON) NUMBERS 25: 12, 13; PSALM 106: 28-33.
6) PRIESTS OF LEVI, MALACHI 2: 4.
7) DAVID, ACTS 2: 30; 2 CHRONICLES 7: 18.
8) CHURCH, HEBREWS 12: 24 (cf. JEREMIAH 31: 31).
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