Covenanter Witness Vol. 53 - Rparchives.org

greatest"more"obedient"people"Pentecost onward there is to be a deeper and more vital fellowship in allChristian life. Perhaps it might be saidthat in the old, the emphasis is on theREDEMPTION by Grace, while in thenew the emphasis iswhich we have Redemption.I.on GRACE byThe Fact of the New Covenant.The New Covenant is in deed a present reality. The Old Testament represents God, on a number of occasions,as entering into a covenant with Hispeople. The covenant idea is that Goddraws near and enters into fellowshipwith man. A special historical covenantthat stands in contrast with the newcovenant is the covenant made withIsrael at Mt. Sinai. It was well suitedto the needs of Israel at that particularstage of redemption, but it was not intended to be final. It revealed the lawof God for the conduct of the people,and they said, "All that the Lord hathsaid will we do, and be(Ex.24:7). But Israel failed in their obedience, and through their failure the covenant blessing was lost. The prophetsforetell a new covenant in which notonlyIsrael but all mankind will bevitally interested. It is this new covenant that the writer of Hebrews describes. It tells of blessings not fullyrealized in the old. It's promises couldbe fulfilled only after the atoning workof the Great High Priest had been accomplished. This new covenant is indeed (1) gracious, (2) beneficent, (3)abiding, (4) effectual.The following are some of the OldTestament promises relating to the newcovenant: Isa. 42:6; 49:8; 55:3; 59:21;61:8; Jer. 31:31-33; 32:40; 50:5; Ezek.16:60-62; 20:37; 34:25; 37:28; Hosea2:18.II.The Fourfold Promise of the NewCovenant.1. The inward nature of the covenant,"I will put my laws into their mind,and write them in their hearts" (Heb.8:10).2. A new and more intimate fellowship, "I will be to them a God, andthey shall be to me a (Heb. 8:10).3. The more extended application ofthe covenant,"They shall not teachevery man his neighbor and every manhis brother, saying, Know the Lord;for all shall know me, from the leastto the(Heb. 8:11).4. The fuller manifestation of theworking of divine mercy, "For I will bemerciful to their unrighteousness, andtheir sinsremember noAugust 11, 1954and their iniquities will I(Heb. 8:12).In the above promises we have (1)provision for man's every need both asindividuals and as a race, such as pardon, justification, sanctification, adoption. No other creature of God partakesof such blessings. (2) Here also is asure ground for hope. Read Heb. 6:17-20.III.God's Part in the Covenant.The emphasis here is placed uponGod's part in the covenant. The HolySpirit is God'sagent in all covenantrelationship. It is the work of the HolySpirit to begin the relationship throughthe regeneration of the soul. Man mustbe made a new creature before he canenter into covenant fellowship with God.It is the task of the Holy Spirit tocarry on the work of sanctification,growth, and development of those whoare in the covenant. While such a largeand important part ofthe work depends upon the Holy Spirit, still it isGod's covenant with the individual, andit is the Christian's duty to work outhis own salvation (Phil. 2:12-13). Hereit would be well to study Shorter Catechism questions 29 to 36 as they relateto the Holy Spirit's application to thebeliever of the benefits purchased byChrist. The above questions andanswers set forth (a) the Divine power,(b) the Divine purpose, (c) the Divinemethod, and (d)the Divine results.IV.The Value of the New CovenantTo what extent should one value theNew Covenant relationship? Since Godis so concerned for our welfare, shouldwe not be more appreciative ofthepriceless privilege of being the childrenof the covenant? Rom. 8:14-17. Themercies of God's Grace come to usthrough the Holy Spirit's activity. Wedo not merit or achieve anyof them.It is for us to recognize the unfailingfaithfulness of God, and to renew ourconsecration, realizing that we still needmore strength, more faith, more of theSpirit's aid in the fulfillment of life'sduties. The exhortation found in Hebrews 3:1-19 is still worthy of our consideration. Such is the New Covenant"ordered in all things and It sure."givesassurance of acceptance to the believerand the pledge of victory to all in thecovenant bond.In our first study on Covenantingwe considered the God of the Covenant, His personality and character; seePrayer Meeting Topic for January 6.In this present study wethinkinghave beenof God's part in the covenantrelationship but from a more practicalpoint of view. We are persuaded that inour study so far we have found the following precious truths: (11 In the Covenant there is a promise given by Godto exercise Divine power in our behalf;(2) there is the assurance given byGod that He will make Himself over tous as a portion of the soul; (3) thatthere will be the bestowal of a titleto all the good to be found in the household of the redeemed; (4) that therewill be the removal of the darknessfrom the mind, the alienation from theheart, the weakness from the will, thusenabling the believer to embrace JesusChrist as He is offered to us in theGospel.For Discussion:1. Whynecessity?was the New Covenant a2. How does the New Covenant promote humility and consecration?3. What obligations rest on those whoreceive the benefits of the New Covenant?4. How may the blessings of the NewCovenant be passed on to others?5. Should we consider the importanceof the New Covenant when we observethe Lord's Supper?NATIONAL JUNIOR PROJECTS(Continued from page 89)we discuss each verse in the passage.When this discussion is over we almostknow the verses, but through the weekthree times a day, if possible, or atleast twice a day in family worshipwerecite the passage. By the end of theweek we pretty well know the passage.Besides laying up God's Word in ourlives and praying for various people andprojects, let us not forget our offerings. Already, we have completed oneproject (a file for the ReformationTranslation Fellowship)and we havetwo projects not yet paid for. These twoprojects are books to Selma and Kentucky. So let's keepour contributionscoming and we will try to have moreprojects ready when these are completed.JUST THINKINGBy Mary Starck KerrI was just thinking,it grows verytiresome to read the extenuationalcoholics as sick persons, who shouldnot be punished for their misdeeds, buthelped. We agree that they should behelped, but not helped to avoid thepenalty of crimes committed under theinfluence of liquor. The old-fashionedgospel is the best cure for alcoholism,and we should have more people takingit to the people who are in danger ofbecoming alcoholics. We should alsoeliminate the manufacture and sale ofthe alcoholic beverages which, after all,are the only means of producing alcoholism.of93