Doctrine: Covenants

Good morning...

Let’s start with our verse…Hab. 3

Just a reminder that we have 2 more weeks of our mini study- keep inviting friends who might be interested in joining us for John.

I also wanted to let you know that we have another new leaders starting with us today. Kim Kilgore is joining us as a new GL. YAY!

Just a reminder- please, please, please sign the permission form for any children you bring for registration for next year and GL’s- please remind your women to do the same. We will keep reiterating this before lecture, but want to make sure that everyone remembers to sign the form!

DOCTRINE TALK:

When I growing up- my friends and I used to make promises to each other..

such as how we would be best friends forever...

that we would keep our friends secrets and NEVER tell...

and we would ALWAYS seal our promises....forever and ever…with...

a pinky promise...

that’s right…fingers linked together to signify the unbreakable bond of a pinky promise.

only to find out…that we could in fact NOT…keep our promises to each other...

ultimately breaking the pinkie promise relationship that had been made.

Well..this week in our scripture- I am happy to tell you- that we do not serve a God of relationships dependent on pinky promises...

We serve a God who relates to His people through covenants..

God is a covenant making and covenant keeping God..

A covenant is relationship between two partners who make binding promises to each other and work together to reach a common goal.

Covenants are relational.. legal…and binding...

I think we often underestimate the depth of the covenant relationship between us and God because we do not live in a world where people live in covenantal relationships- in fact- covenant is barely a word we use these day.

One preacher says: It is a relationship more loving and intimate than a marital legal relationship, yet more binding and enduring and accountable than a marital personal relationship.

In a Covenant relationship- Both people in the covenant have to say..

You are more important than me.

This relationship is more important than MY needs…

In Deuteronomy, after God had led the people out of slavery in Egypt, God made a covenant with the people of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai known as the Mosaic covenant.

This was conditional…Which means- both parties had to hold up their end, otherwise, the covenant was considered broken and no longer.

In the Mosaic covenant, if Israel obeyed the law- God would bless them, if they disobeyed, they would be cursed.

And in Exodus 19:8 they said: “All the Lord has spoken we will do.” They made the promise...and the covenant began..

However- as we have seen over and over again this year…much like most of our pinky promises, they did NOT and could not uphold their end of the covenant.

But…our covenant God knew that would happen…and he had a plan.

in chp. 31- Jeremiah promises that God is going to bring about a NEW COVENANT..

and this new covenant would be signed, sealed and delivered in Christ’s blood.

Unlike the Mosaic covenant- this covenant would be unconditional…meaning that the success of the covenant would only dependent on one party. God.

Our promise keeping..always faithful God.

Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17) and established the New Covenant.

The Old Covenant was written in stone, but the New Covenant is written on hearts.

This covenant brought salvation and eternal blessings to believers.

With the new covenant came the promised Holy Spirit- who generated renewal and transformation to all who put their faith in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice.

Without the new covenant- I am left to constantly try to achieve an unachievable standard in my own strength and live in fear of punishment when I fail.

But when I believe in Christ through the new covenant- then I am set free from the slavery of sin.

And through the Holy Spirit I can now live a life that is pleasing to God.

But, God’s amazing covenant promises are not just held for eternity, they also transform our relationship with Him here and now...

How can you experience God’s new covenant promises of renewal and redemption TODAY?

God has provided the Holy Spirit to dwell in your heart and help you…to transform you..

the New covenant leads you to strive to obey through the help of the Holy Spirit because you realize that Christ died to fulfill the new covenant-to fulfill the law- and you can obey, resting assured that there will be no condemnation when you fail.

See God’s covenant promises provide more than the bright hope of future glory—they empower you to follow God without condemnation and provide strength for today!