24 lines
4.5 KiB
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24 lines
4.5 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">January 25</div></div>
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<div class="main-just"><div class="pad2030"><h2>New Covenant Provided by the Blood of Christ</h2>
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<div class="block"><p><i>"This cup is the new covenant <b>in My blood</b>, which is shed for you"…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold…but with <b>the precious blood of Christ</b>, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk',22,'20-20');">Luke 22:20</a> and <a onClick="return mV('1Pe',1,'18-19');">1 Peter 1:18-19</a>)</div>
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<p>The well-known words from the Lord's Supper in <a onClick="return mV('Luk',22,'20-20');">Luke 22:20</a> remind us that the <b>glorious riches</b> of <b>grace</b> found in the <b>new covenant</b> are all <b>provided</b> by the <b>shed blood</b> of Jesus Christ, as He died on the cross for us. <i>"This cup is the new covenant <b>in My blood</b>, which is shed for you."</i> Customarily, we think of <b>forgiveness</b> of <b>sins</b> when we hear these words. Forgiveness is certainly included in the blessings secured by the death of our Lord. Notice, however, that Jesus did <b>not</b> say "this cup is <b>forgiveness</b> in My blood." He said, <i>"This cup is the <b>new covenant</b> in My blood</i>.<i>"</i></p>
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<p>The new covenant is far more than forgiveness of sins. As previously indicated, the Scriptures reveal that the new covenant has <b>three</b> basic areas of blessings. First is the <b>forgiveness</b> of sins. <i>"Their <b>sins</b> and their <b>lawless deeds</b> I will remember no more"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr',8,'12-12');">Hebrews 8:12</a>). Second is an <b>intimate relationship</b> with the Lord. <i>"All shall <b>know Me</b>, from the least of them to the greatest of them"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr',8,'11-11');">Hebrews 8:11</a>). Third is an <b>internal</b> work of God producing an increasingly godly life in and through us. <i>"I will put My laws <b>in their mind</b> and write them <b>on their hearts</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr',8,'10-10');">Hebrews 8:10</a>). The word of God further confirms that all of these grand blessings depend upon God's provision, not our performance. <i>"<b>Not</b> that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of <b>anything</b> as being <b>from ourselves</b>, <b>but</b> our sufficiency is <b>from God</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',3,'5-5');">2 Corinthians 3:5</a>).</p>
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<p>How can it be that such measureless spiritual abundance becomes ours through the new covenant of grace? Well, consider the <b>amazing</b> and <b>effective</b> redemption price paid to establish this new covenant. <i>"Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold…but with <b>the precious blood of Christ</b>."</i> This new covenant was not purchased with limited earthly wealth, like silver and gold. Rather, it was paid for by infinite heavenly treasure, the blood of Christ. No wonder the new covenant provides such amazing and effective resources for all who depend upon the One who died for them.</p>
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<p>One final reflection—realizing <b>all</b> that the <b>cup</b> of the new covenant <b>represents</b> can turn the Lord's Supper from a "religious snack" into a "spiritual feast"!</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Heavenly Father, You have surely provided grace upon grace—complete forgiveness, intimate relationship, divine enablement! Yet, how could any less be supplied by such a rich price! Lord Jesus, thank You for pouring out Your life's blood to make such irreplaceable necessities available. Father, please bring to my remembrance day by day the wondrous riches of the new covenant that You want me to draw upon by faith, through Christ, my Lord, Amen.</div>
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