(Please ensure you’ve read ‘INTRODUCTION TO WEEK 8’ included in Monday’s blog. Link:
and that you’ve read yesterday’s introduction on what a covenant is)
COVENANT FRIENDSHIP (PART 2)
Are you in covenant with Jesus?
Jonathan’s covenant of loving commitment to David is a picture of how we are to enter into a covenant with Jesus. In fact it's the health of our devotion to Jesus (our UP relationship) that determines any relationship with our brothers and sisters (our ‘IN’ relationships).
What is the covenant that we can have with Jesus and how do we enter it?
In the events of the Last Supper, we read,
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 22:26-28)
Christians are in a ‘New Covenant’ with God through Jesus.This covenant relationship has been initiated by God for us - we are invited to enter freely. One who enters this covenant relationship has ‘the forgiveness of sins’.Our forgiveness was purchased by Jesus ‘blood’ - his death for our sin.To enter the covenant we must ‘take and eat’ and ‘drink from it’; this means to believe in his death for sin as symbolised by Communion (bread and wine). This New Covenant also includes the gift of new life by the Spirit. This life from God will be expressed in new desires to love God and His people. (See Jeremiah 31:31-34).
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).
RESPONSE
Taking Communion and believers baptism are the two main ways through which we express that we are in this New Covenant with Jesus and His people. Have you been baptised as a believer? (See Acts 2:38)
Today, we continue to meditate on and memorise Matthew 22:37-39
(If you’ve not done so, please ensure you’ve read Monday’s response section where I’ve included notes and questions to help you).
Matthew 22:37-39. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”
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