Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Luke 22:20 "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
THE NEW TESTAMENT
It is the night before His death on the cross, and Jesus says: In me find the New Testament, the covenant renewed! He kept man's side perfectly and endured all the consequences for our breaking the covenant. In Him are also embodied all the promises that make up God's side of the Covenant. He cares for, heals, and comforts His own, and is Himself the Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Now you don't have to wonder how God will act toward you. It is part of the covenant, He will be your God, and you will be His people (cp. Jeremiah 31:33). What's more, the covenant takes us out of the realm of mere emotional attachment to God. Observe, for example, how long those marriage covenants last that are entered into with the idea "as long as we both are in love." The first difficulty and the thing is on the rocks if it is based only on emotion.
But Christ puts us on a more solid footing. Our relationship with God is not based on how we feel about Him, but on what He has done for us -- He has kept our side of the covenant for us, offered it to us and brought us into that covenant relationship with God that He has established for us. In hard times we do not need to nurse a vague hope for God's care. It is part of the covenant! We can come boldly to the throne of God and find grace to help in time of need.
Through the forgiveness of sins, God's covenant declares us to be the children of God.
