E 208: Forget New Year Resolutions. How about a NEW Covenant Relationship Instead.

ONE DAY CLOSER with Mark & Dave

Back in August, we took a closer look at Covenant Relationships and what they mean. We thought it might be worth repeating as we enter into the new year.
In our show entitled “Our Encounter with a Messenger” (E 169); Michael the Messenger left us with this instruction: “Study Covenant Relationships.”
So we did.
There are FIVE foundational Covenants with man in the Bible.
Noahic Covenant
Abrahamic Covenant
Mosaic Covenant
Davidic Covenant
Jesus Is the Covenantal Climax
But first, a little history on covenants. The term "covenant" is of Latin origin (con venire), meaning a coming together. It presupposes two or more parties who come together to make a contract, agreeing on promises, stipulations, privileges, and responsibilities.
God covenanted [or promised] with Noah after the flood that a like judgment should not be repeated. The principal covenants are the covenant of works --God promising to save and bless men on condition of obedience --and the covenant of grace, or God's promise to save men on condition of their believing in Christ and receiving him as their Master and Savior.
The New Testament authors present Jesus as the offspring of Abraham who trusted Yahweh, even to the point of death, and became a blessing to all nations. He is the greater Moses, leading us out of bondage, and he is the obedient Israelite who perfectly follows the laws of God. He is the royal son of David who inaugurated God’s Kingdom in his life, death, and resurrection, and who now sits at God’s right hand forever reigning as the one true King.
Jesus perfectly succeeded at every point where humanity failed. He is the guarantor and mediator of the new and better covenant (Heb. 7:22, 9:15). Now people from every nation, tribe, and tongue who trust Jesus can become a part of God’s covenant family.
In the new covenant, we receive the forgiveness of sins and God’s empowering Spirit to help us live lives full of self-giving love. Because of Jesus, we can live righteously and partner with him as he renews the world.
And from Jesus he only asks us to BELIEVE! If not in himself, then in the works that he did! John 3:16 Whomsoever believes.
No works required. Simply believe. Yet there are countless benefits, promises and empowering traits or attributes of character that are PROMISED to those that surrender all and accept the call (challenge) to “work towards” the same objectives Christ taught. Insight, discretion, power, authority, wisdom, strength, understanding, compassion, purpose, etc, etc comes to mind.
These were NOT given to the man on the cross that asked Christ to forgive him…he was going to die…he had no time to use these gifts…but Jesus said..today you will be with me in Paradise. He simply believed. There were no works for this brother.
But to those that remain, those that are alive today in Christ…these believers have been given many promises, gifts, talents and authority…because we have a job to do…until we don’t.
Reference Study Source:
Whitney Woollard is a writer, speaker, and Bible teacher in Portland, OR. She holds her M.A. in biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary and loves sharing her passion for the Bible with others. You can check out her work at her website, whitneywoollard.com

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