So what?
That question should be asked every time we are taught the New Covenant. But
first, we need to know the
basics of the New Covenant. Jeremiah 31:33‐34 tells us that it holds us up by
three pillars. 33 “But
this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those
days,” declares the Lord, “I
will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be
their God, and they shall be My
people. 34 They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his
brother, saying,
‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the
greatest of them,” declares
the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no
more.”
1. Pillar
One – God gave us a new identity. Years ago, a lady told me she was praying God
would write His
law on her heart. He had already answered her prayer the day she was saved. But what does
that mean? The Law is based on the character of God, meaning He has placed His character
in our new heart in Christ. So
what? We are not defined
by our past, parents, possessions
or peer. God alone defines us as holy, righteous, blameless, loving and more.
It’s who we are
in the deepest core of our being.
2. Pillar
Two – God united Himself to us. The word “know” in verse 34 is the same Hebrew
word used in
Genesis 4:1 where Adam and Eve’s amazing intimacy of their physical union is
written about.
Similarly, God united Himself to us spiritually. So what? He wants to enjoy us and for us to enjoy
Him as He loves us from the inside and lives through us the very life of
Christ.
3. Pillar
Three – God forgave us completely. God forgave us so thoroughly that it not
only includes our past
but our future, too. Not remembering our sins any more means He doesn’t hold
them against us
even when we do sin. So
what? We never need to
feel compelled to “run away” from our Father
when we sin. We can run to Him and be honest about what we have done and
confident we are
forgiven. And then ask Jesus to live through us in us to overcome the next time
(That’s repentance.)
There is so
much more I’d like to tell you about the “So
what?” for every one of these, but space prohibits it. A lot of this will
be in the book I am writing; but, you don’t have to wait for it to come out.
You can hear it taught NOW in one of our offices in person or online. The next
opportunity for this in Charlotte and Asheville is our Grace Life Conference.
The next opportunity for women only is our Women of Grace one morning a week.
See the sidebar for more info.
May you enjoy Jesus and the blessings you
already have in the New Covenant in Him this week.
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2015 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!
