In Christ

The New Covenant – This phrase may be familiar to you if you have been in church at all, but what does it really mean?

First of all, the word "covenant” is an unbreakable promise between two groups of people or two individuals. To enter into a covenant with someone meant you were totally and forever giving yourself and your possessions to that person. Everything you had or would have in the future became the equal property of the covenant partner.

You may think that this sounds like slavery, but that is far from it. Covenant partnerships actually benefited both parties. It was an exchange. One party may have been great warriors, but needed food for their families. The other party may have been great farmers, but needed protection from other warring tribes. Get the picture?

During the covenant ceremony, often the partners exchanged coats, each one giving the other their own authority. Sometimes there would be an exchange of weapons signifying "Your enemies are now my enemies.” As well, most likely there would also be an exchange of names. Each partner would take the other partners name as well as their own. To seal the covenant, there would most often be a sacrifice of animals, and both partners would walk in between the halves quoting the promises they would uphold to both sides of the covenant partnership.

Because both parties were strong in one area, but weak in another, they would come together and enter into a blood covenant with each other. This covenant was never to be broken until death. In fact, some covenants lasted many generations.

Marriage is a type of covenant partnership if it is done right. Where one person is weak, the other is strong, and the other way around. The old saying "opposites attract” is true in marriage as well. This is the way God intended it to be.

Apply all of this to the New Covenant we have as Christians with God Himself! I encourage you to study the covenant we have with Him. Let Holy Spirit show you from the Word what really happened when Jesus became the sacrifice that confirmed your covenant with God when you invited Him into your heart.

In John 16:23 He gave us His Name. "At that time you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.” In Matthew 28:18-20 He gave us His authority. "Jesus came and told his disciples, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'” In Ephesians 6:10-18 we see that we have His armor and weapons for our protection. Verse 10 & 11 reads: "A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”

Please read through Hebrews 10: 1-23. Study this and other scriptures that show us what we have in the New and Better Covenant!

Submission by Pastor Rena Mae