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“The time is
coming," declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I
made with their forefathers I took them by the hand lead them out of Egypt,
they broke my covenant, I was a husband to them", declares the LORD.” - Jeremiah 31:31-32
When I was a boy my neighbor and I
made a blood bond together, as many 10 year old boys do. We took a small
pocket knife, made a cut across the palm of our hand and then clasped hands
together. Sure, I know it was foolish, and we could have gotten
infections and passed disease between each other, but hey we were 10 and it was
the 1970’s. The covenant we made with each other was a “blood-brother”
bond that we would always be there for each other. At that age, we never
considered that we might live very different lives far away from the beautiful
state of Michigan. As much as we fully intended on this bond being for
life, it ended up being broken after 15 years or so. The phone calls and
letters became fewer and fewer, until they became rare occurrences. This
reminds me, I should write him a letter tonight.
Similarly, covenants between God and man exist throughout the scriptures. The most familiar is the Sinaitic covenant, which was brought down from Mt. Sinai by Moses and read to God’s people was also broken by mankind. This covenant (Mosaic Law) was laid down and understood as rules from above and the covenant would remain in place as long as the Israelites would abide by these commandments , and many even to this day strive and labor to keep true these laws. Following covenants with David, the Israelites and the nation of Judah would all attempt to piece back together the bond between God and His children. This becomes the importance of the New Covenant prophesied by Jeremiah.
By establishing a New Covenant with His children, God sets His will, love and grace within each man’s heart, so that He will never be apart from them. Jesus Christ’ birth, life, death and resurrection creates that blood covenant between God and man once and for all. Not to overrule the Sinaitic covenant of Moses Law, or the David covenant, or the Israeli covenant but rather too compliment and fulfill them. We see numerous examples of Christ quoting and abiding by the Mosiac Law, but we also see Him challenging the strict adherence to that law. The New Covenant is built on the foundation that man cannot be perfect in following every portion of the law. If heaven were only available to those that worked their entire life to live by these laws without error; it will be an empty parking lot. The Israelites and the Jews all believe that Messiah will enter in this New Covenant of redemption and establish His Kingdom here on earth. They just don’t believe that Jesus Christ is that man. This is part of the reason you see so much controversy between the Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees and Jesus. Their belief is that they were the knowledge bearers and the studied; and Jesus did not at all fit the image of the Messiah they were waiting for. After all, He was that young boy from Nazareth.
As Christ states in the Upper Room at the last supper, “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:20. The blood He shed on Calvary was the final atonement and entered into the New Covenant with the Lord. This abolished the need for continuing with sacrifices for sin, and set in place the grace by which we all may enter into heaven even though we aren’t worthy and finally it created a personal relationship between man and God that will last for all time. The Savior’s act of sacrifice was accentuated by the shedding of blood, but in this case it was God’s blood. One drop is sufficient for the redemption of your sin, regardless of how dreadful you think it is.
The New Covenant clearly made a way for all mankind to enter into heaven, by acknowledging Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Enter into the New Covenant with the Lord, and you don’t even have to cut your hand open to do it. You see your blood won’t get you there, only His will, and He’s already shed it for you.
Similarly, covenants between God and man exist throughout the scriptures. The most familiar is the Sinaitic covenant, which was brought down from Mt. Sinai by Moses and read to God’s people was also broken by mankind. This covenant (Mosaic Law) was laid down and understood as rules from above and the covenant would remain in place as long as the Israelites would abide by these commandments , and many even to this day strive and labor to keep true these laws. Following covenants with David, the Israelites and the nation of Judah would all attempt to piece back together the bond between God and His children. This becomes the importance of the New Covenant prophesied by Jeremiah.
By establishing a New Covenant with His children, God sets His will, love and grace within each man’s heart, so that He will never be apart from them. Jesus Christ’ birth, life, death and resurrection creates that blood covenant between God and man once and for all. Not to overrule the Sinaitic covenant of Moses Law, or the David covenant, or the Israeli covenant but rather too compliment and fulfill them. We see numerous examples of Christ quoting and abiding by the Mosiac Law, but we also see Him challenging the strict adherence to that law. The New Covenant is built on the foundation that man cannot be perfect in following every portion of the law. If heaven were only available to those that worked their entire life to live by these laws without error; it will be an empty parking lot. The Israelites and the Jews all believe that Messiah will enter in this New Covenant of redemption and establish His Kingdom here on earth. They just don’t believe that Jesus Christ is that man. This is part of the reason you see so much controversy between the Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees and Jesus. Their belief is that they were the knowledge bearers and the studied; and Jesus did not at all fit the image of the Messiah they were waiting for. After all, He was that young boy from Nazareth.
As Christ states in the Upper Room at the last supper, “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:20. The blood He shed on Calvary was the final atonement and entered into the New Covenant with the Lord. This abolished the need for continuing with sacrifices for sin, and set in place the grace by which we all may enter into heaven even though we aren’t worthy and finally it created a personal relationship between man and God that will last for all time. The Savior’s act of sacrifice was accentuated by the shedding of blood, but in this case it was God’s blood. One drop is sufficient for the redemption of your sin, regardless of how dreadful you think it is.
The New Covenant clearly made a way for all mankind to enter into heaven, by acknowledging Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Enter into the New Covenant with the Lord, and you don’t even have to cut your hand open to do it. You see your blood won’t get you there, only His will, and He’s already shed it for you.
PRAYER:
Almighty Father,
You have given us Your grace, love and mercy. You have formed a New Covenant with all mankind, that we might carry Your Holy Spirit in our heart and Christ’s teachings in our head. Help us to make this a reality in our lives, such that others can see of Your love through us. You have blessed us through Your word and covenant’s with our ancestors, but more so through the New Covenant with Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your grace - Amen
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