Sunday Morning Podcast June 15. 2014. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: JEREMIAH 31:31-34
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
We honor a father’s integrity of kept promises, or kept covenants. We can be thankful for our earthly father…but even more so for our Heavenly Father. Jesus is our example, as He honored and had an intimate relationship with His Father.
A covenant is an agreement between two “parties”. Each is agreeing to whatever terms have been set. Verse 33; God will ‘put’ a new covenant in our hearts, and not merely teach them to us. This is the greatest gift we can also give to our children. For it is our responsibility to present to them the plan of God’s Salvation. This is His true covenant for each seeking soul. With God, our terms are that we will faithfully honor all that He asks of us, as He faithfully already honors the promise He gives for our inheritance. The validity of the covenant, hinges on all keeping the agreement.
Sealed with Jesus’ shed blood, there is never a breaking of the covenant ..by God. If there is any breaking of the agreement, it is always on the part of man. God gives us a choice, because we are never forced to obey. True obedience comes through love. If we fail in our promise to God, (to serve Him in holiness), it is the sin of disobedience that is at fault. If we truly serve Him, we will no longer continue to live for selfishness, lie, cheat, have profane words or actions, etc. A true and kept covenant to God is by necessity through His holiness, as God cannot abide sin.
The teaching of this covenant to our children will last for them eternally. This is a part of our covenant with God.