They Entered Into a Covenant to Seek The
The sermon emphasizes the significance of the new covenant, entered into by Jesus on our behalf, and encourages believers to participate in it by reminding God of His promises and asking Jesus to accomplish God's law in us.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the significance of entering into a covenant with God, contrasting it with the fleeting covenants made by humans. He highlights that God's covenant is permanent, based on His promises rather than human efforts, and is fulfilled through Jesus Christ, who represents humanity in this new covenant. Meyer reassures that while humans often fail in their commitments, Jesus has already met all the requirements, and through the Holy Spirit, believers can embody the conditions of this covenant. Each time believers partake in the new covenant, they remind God of His promises and seek His help to fulfill His law in their lives. Ultimately, Meyer encourages trust in God's faithfulness to fulfill His covenant promises as He has done for previous generations.
Text
They entered into a covenant to seek the
Lord God of their fathers. 2 Chron. xv. 12.
WE hear but little talk in the present day of the covenant, the mention of which was dear to God's people of olden time. There is this difference between it and the covenants which we make with God. That is permanent, these evanescent. That is founded upon the oath and promise of God; these on the resolutions and endeavours of man. That is full of promises of what God will be and do; these recount what we are prepared to sacrifice and suffer. And though we sign them with blood drawn from our veins, they will disappoint and fail.
Do not think too much of entering into and keeping a covenant with God; but remember that the Lord Jesus, on our behalf, has entered into covenant relation with the Father, and the Father with us in Him. This is the new covenant. It is drawn out at length in Hebrews viii. Very little is said about our side, but it is full to overflowing of God's. Nothing is said of our fidelity to our obligations, because man has been too often weighed in the balances and found wanting; and because the Lord Jesus Christ, as our representative, has already fulfilled all the conditions of obedience and devotion on which its provisions depend. He has also graciously undertaken to realize those conditions by the Holy Spirit in us.
Every time we put to our lips the cup of the new covenant, we humbly remind God of all He has promised, and ask Him to do as He has said. At the same time we may confidently ask the great Surety of the covenant to accomplish in us such a mind as may love and keep our Father's law. And what He did for our fathers, who were naturally just such as we are, He will certainly do for us.
Sermon Outline
- The Covenant of Old
- The New Covenant
- Participating in the New Covenant
- Reminding God of His promises
- Asking Jesus to accomplish God's law in us
- Realized by the Holy Spirit in us
Key Quotes
“That is permanent, these evanescent.” — F.B. Meyer
“The Lord Jesus, on our behalf, has entered into covenant relation with the Father, and the Father with us in Him.” — F.B. Meyer
“He has also graciously undertaken to realize those conditions by the Holy Spirit in us.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We can confidently ask Jesus to accomplish in us a mind that loves and keeps God's law.
- We can participate in the new covenant by reminding God of His promises and asking Jesus to fulfill them in our lives.
- The Holy Spirit is the key to realizing the conditions of obedience and devotion in us, allowing us to participate in the new covenant.