"New Testament in My Blood"

Today's Devotion Wednesday, February 12, 2020

"The New Testament in My Blood"

Today's Text Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:20

In partaking with His disciples of the bread and wine, Christ pledged Himself to them as their Redeemer. He committed to them the new covenant, by which all who receive Him become children of God, and joint heirs with Christ. By this covenant every blessing that Heaven could bestow for this life and the life to come was theirs. This covenant deed was to be ratified with the blood of Christ. And the administration of the sacrament was to keep before the disciples the infinite sacrifice made for each of them individually as a part of the great whole of fallen humanity. But the communion service was not to be a season of sorrowing. This was not its purpose. As the Lord's disciples gather about His table, they are not to remember and lament their shortcomings. They are not to dwell upon their past religious experience, whether that experience has been elevating or depressing. They are not to recall the differences between them and their brethren. The preparatory service has embraced all this. The self-examination, the confession of sin, the reconciling of differences, has all been done. Now they come to meet with Christ. They are not to stand in the shadow of the cross, but in its saving light. They are to open the soul to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. With hearts cleansed by Christ's most precious blood, in full consciousness of His presence, although unseen, they are to hear His words, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” John 14:27. The Desire of Ages, 656, 657. The atoning sacrifice is full and sufficient. It is the new covenant, sealed with His blood, which was shed for many for the remission of sins. This Christ declared at the Last Supper. In this cup there is to those who drink in faith, peace-making, soul-cleansing efficacy. It is the balm of Gilead, which God has provided to restore health and soundness to the sin-stricken soul. SDA Bible Commentary 5:1102. Note: In some areas phrases have been omitted by the compilers for whatever reason. I have restored them as underlined text, that the full intent of the author may be given.

My Thoughts: My friend, the new covenant that was instituted in the last supper and ratified at the cross centered upon the life of the Son of God. By the imparting of His life to us, we are transformed into His lovely image. The old covenant brought the believer into a knowledge of God and sin, but in it there was no power to overcome sin; no power to transform the life. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3, 4). Jesus said, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:20). Many times, we look to this plain statement from Jesus and miss the significance of what He really meant. This new testament, or new covenant, was based upon the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus represented the greater reality of the life of Jesus that is to be imparted in us. His life is to become a part of ours, the union of the divine with the human. In the night meeting with Nicodemus Jesus said “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). This new birth was the receiving of the life of the Son of God. This new birth is the manifestation of the new covenant in the life of all those who will believe. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:26, 27). The new covenant is in the life of the Son of God. How sad it is that so many today have not received the new covenant but have remained in the old, for they have not received the life of the Son of God. By the trinity they have received a false Christ in place of the true, and because they have not received the Son of God, they do not have life. They do not have the righteousness of Christ living within them, and as such they look to the righteousness in the law to satisfy their lack. But the law though holy, righteous, and good, cannot transform their lives. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” (Romans 8:3). My friend, it is time to look away from the false god of the trinity unto the One true God through His Son Jesus Christ today, that you may receive His life in place of your own. God bless,

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Real of Cheap Grace? with Nadar Mansour God's grace is often misunderstood and therefore abused. In Real or Cheap Grace Nader Mansour examines a number of Bible definitions for grace and what they mean as well as two common abuses of it. How does one's understanding of grace impact their spiritual walk and experience? This and more is examined in this study. RESOURCES: Archive of Daily Devotions Melodies of Prayer Free Bible & Commentary Bible Study Resources The Truth About God The Final Protest Revelation1412.org Recommended YouTube Channels (New) The Advent Bible Fellowship YouTube channel Open Face Fellowship Revelation 14:12 Pro-life Andrew Smyrna Gospel Ministry Line of Truth Ministries

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