New Covenant in My Blood

Jeremiah 31:31–34 ESV

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

What this passage of Scripture is referencing is what we call the New Covenant. Anyone who is part, that is to say, has been made a part of the covenant community regards the promise of this covenant as a treasure beyond measure.

But the question is how is this possible? How could it be that sinful people

could come to possess God’s law on their hearts?

could know God intimately without the assistance of another?

could have their iniquity forgiven?

how could it be that God would no longer hold the sins of people against them any longer?

Jesus answered these questions:

Luke 22:19–20 ESV

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.

Jesus spoke these words just after distributing the bread to His disciples. What I want to point out is the connection Jesus makes between His blood and the New Covenant. What I suggest Jesus is making clear here in Luke 22, is that the promise of the New Covenant and all of its blessings were made possible through the blood of Christ. That Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice, that He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, that He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities is what secured the promise of the New Covenant for His people.

This church is what what we recognize and celebrate today. Jesus’ atoning death. His work of redemption. We invite all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as the one, true living Savior for the forgiveness of their sins and as the way, the truth and the life to partake today. We urge you all to consider this carefully. Jesus instructed us to do what we are about to do in remembrance of Him. Not as a mere act of ritual, but as an act of worship and obedience out of a sincere love for Him. If this describes you, you are invited to partake.

Before we proceed, I want to invite you to seek the Lord, in the quietness of your own hearts. Perhaps you need to confess sin. Perhaps you need to seek the forgiveness of a brother or sister in Christ. Perhaps you need to take a moment to dwell upon the rich love of that Christ has for you. Take time to seek Jesus now.

Pray to pronounce pardon

In a moment, I will invite you to come forward to partake of the elements but I want to urge you that you on the authority of God word to be sure that you belong to God through faith in the redemptive work of Jesus on your behalf. If however you are living in sin, and refuse to repent, it would dishonor God for you to partake. We are all sinners, but we do not come unless we have received the forgiveness of our sins through Christ and His gift of everlasting life with Him.

Explain Process

Give elements to elders

Invite people to come forward

Put plates back on table

Serve elders

Ask if anyone needs to be served

Ask elder to bless bread

As Jesus made clear, the bread represents His body which was broken for us. Take now and eat.

Ask elder to bless the cup

Jesus explained that the cup is the New Covenant in His blood. Let us drink in remembrance of Him.

Know brother, know without a doubt sister, Jesus paid the price in full, and on this basis we are members of the New Covenant community. Praise the Lord.

We will sing a hymn together, but before we do, it is our custom on this particular Sunday of the month to take an offering for our benevolence fund that will go towards the immediate physical that exist among us, so that offering will be taken as we sing together.