The New Covenant: Part II

Bible teacher and author, Charles Simpson, has pointed out that "The purpose of covenant is to produce a family." Since we know that it has been God's desire from all eternity to have a family for Himself, we must understand that such a family is made possible by the covenant God has made available to us in Christ. God literally binds Himself to His promises, paving the way for us to enter into relationship with Him and the other members of the covenant family. Clearly, we were designed to be a covenant people!

As a result of what God has done for us, it can rightly be said that at the heart of the church must be a willingness by its members to demonstrate covenant love to each other! This means that walking in covenant is meant to be a way of life. It is not merely an intellectual acceptance of certain "covenantal truths," or a Sunday morning "attendee" mentality, but a practical day-to-day decision to live in relationship with others who carry an ability to keep covenant in their hearts. This is why it is important for us to remember that covenant is a matter of the heart.

Tony Ling has pointed out "that covenant is the prescribed way by which the life of God is demonstrated. The eternal covenant within the Godhead became visibly embodied in Christ whom the Father gave 'to be a covenant for the people' (Is. 42:6). That covenant is still manifest in Christ through the church which is his body." How we must praise God for this, for today we are meant to see a covenant people - full of love and faith - emerging in the earth for the glory of God and all to see!