04/07/2021
The New Covenant was prophesied time and time again in the Old Testament, sometimes boldly, but at other times in less straightforward fashion, but the prophesy was believed nonetheless. So why is it that so many Christians today can’t see that this covenant has arrived, and that we are living under it? Why can’t we see that this prophesy has been fulfilled by God through Christ, and is ours to be followed today, and every day.
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”Ezekiel 36:25-27 ESV
God was unhappy with Israel in Ezekiel’s day. They had been scattered and were living in many nations, and yet their faith was not being practiced, or maintained, as God would have it, but He didn’t destroy them, instead he promised to gather them back together, and use them to vindicate His good name. Through a New Covenant He would use them as an example to the nations.
“And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.”Ezekiel 36:23 ESV
Jesus has redeemed us, and sent us back into the nations with His gospel. We have been equipped with the good news that includes a New Covenant, but how well are we doing today? How well are we upholding the great commission, and are we practicing and maintaining our belief in Him any better than the Israelites represented God in their day? Are we more concerned with the coffers of our churches, and less about the souls we are meant to preach to? Are we going abroad to do moral acts, and practice philanthropic endeavors, but neglecting our primary mission of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ? Do we still believe in Jesus as we should, or have we turned to serving man’s purposes under the guise of a Christian faith? In the 1800s Andrew Murray was concerned about this same lack of focus...
“But why does the truth of the New Covenant so seldom become a reality in the life of the believer? The answer is simple. It is not preached or believed, and the fulfillment of it is not felt in the believer’s life.” - Andrew Murray
Until we come to know God, and believe that He sent His Son Jesus to redeem us from sin, we are still in the world, or under the law. Though we say we believe in God, until we accept His Holy Spirit into ourselves we are inclined to return to worldliness, or remain in the Old Covenant that has now been replaced by grace, God’s love, and worshiping in Spirit and truth. Without faith we might feed the poor as any good and moral man might, but where is the grace of God, or the love of Jesus in it? Where is our obedience to the great commission that Jesus gave us? We are not meant to be worldly, or simply moral... we are to be like Jesus, and to spread His gospel just as He did, and instructed us to do.
“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”John 17:16-18 ESV
So, are we believers; men and women of faith? Is our belief in God, and faith in Jesus Christ what leads our life, or is it simply relegated to trailing behind in the dust of our lives? Let’s ask ourselves today whether we are only Christians in name, and determine whether we live under the New Covenant established for us by God through Jesus Christ. As we travel through life God sees, and knows, our heart... are we honest enough with ourselves to see it too, and to place Him first in it?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ whose blood is the New Covenant that has fulfilled the Old, and gives us hope through your grace, and love. Help us Father to lay claim to the power of the New Covenant as we struggle against the world, and the false prophets who attempt to redirect your Word to suit man’s moral purposes without regard to you. Teach us how to give in your name, to serve others in your name, to provide drink to the thirsty as we tell them of Jesus, and to do all things great and small to bring you glory. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is at the forefront of our every thought, and whose Holy Spirit gives us remembrance of Jesus, and your Holy Word as we are buffeted by temptation. Praised be your name Lord whenever we help those who are needy, because we do these things for your glory, and to serve as your help to the prayers of those who suffer. Teach us to help them pray, even in the midst of desperation... “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Ps 121: 1-2. You are merciful Father, and we pray that you will use us as instruments of that mercy as we walk each day in the New Covenant of grace, and deliver the gospel of Jesus to the lost. Hear our prayers Father as we ask your forgiveness for our sins, for all those things we need to accomplish your will, to vindicate your name, and to remain humble in our obedience to you. Wash us clean of sin through the blood of Jesus, and make us righteous as we drink from the cup He extends to us. Lift us up Father, and call us worthy, as you adopt us as your children, and welcome us to your table for eternity. Let your New Covenant govern our lives now, and forevermore.
“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”Luke 22:19-20 ESV
Rich Forbes