God's Covenant: Christian Foundation

 

31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make ra new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 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. 33 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. 34 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.” Jeremiah 31:31-34 ESV

    The last covenant God made is conditional.  God has been building on His foundational covenant until now.  Jesus is the final covenant God made with His people.  It is all inclusive, but also set you apart from the world.  Anyone can have salvation, but only those who accept it and follow Jesus will receive membership into God's family.

    God prepared His people first for this covenant.  That is why He told the Jewish nation that the Messiah was coming.  They had the first opportunity.  After Jesus came, lived out what Christianity was really about, died, resurrected, and ascended to Heaven every thing changed.  

    The Holy Spirit was not a guaranteed.  Only a few people had the Holy Spirit upon them until now.  Now if you become a follower of Jesus you get the title Christian because you are following Christ in life and into Heaven.  It is sealed by the Holy Spirit.  He will never depart from you once He lives within you.  

    True Christianity is not just a title.  It is a way of life.  It is revealed by the Holy Spirit.  It can't be faked.  Anyone trying to claim the name without actually becoming a part of God's family is lying and insulting God.  True Christians have the law imprinted on their heart to obey out of love by the Holy Spirit who lives within the soul.   You train your mind by spending time in God's Word, prayer, and other Christians on being different from the world.  

    The New Covenant is about having a real relationship with God.  It is an internal transformation.  It may not happen immediately.  You may have a lot to deal with, but the point is you are moving closer to God and rejecting your old sinful nature to do be able to get closer to Him.  

    God's people includes every nation and ethnicity as long as you are walking in faith with Jesus led by the Holy Spirit.  It is universal knowledge meaning anyone can learn it if they want to.  Jesus' blood is the way to complete forgiveness.  His sacrifice changed everything for your benefit.  

Jeremiah 31:31-34, Luke 22:20, & Hebrews8:8-13