Embracing the New Covenant: Union Through Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Complete Forgiveness and Justification

The new covenant introduced by Jesus through communion offers more than just remission of sins; it provides complete forgiveness and justification. This means that believers are seen as righteous before God, not needing to revisit past sins with doubt or fear. The assurance of this complete forgiveness allows individuals to live in the freedom of God's grace, knowing that their sins are not just temporarily covered but permanently forgiven. This profound truth invites believers to embrace a life free from the shackles of guilt and shame, fully confident in their standing before God. [02:16]

Hebrews 10:17-18 (ESV): "Then he adds, 'I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.' Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin."

Reflection: Is there a past sin that you continue to revisit with doubt? How can you embrace the complete forgiveness offered through Jesus today?

Day 2: The Darkest Moment in History

The crucifixion of Jesus is described as the darkest moment in history, where He bore the sins of the world. This event highlights the depth of His sacrifice and the profound love He has for humanity. It was a time when the world was plunged into literal and spiritual darkness, underscoring the gravity of Jesus' sacrifice. Reflecting on this, believers are called to weigh their personal struggles against the immense sacrifice Jesus made, recognizing that His love and sacrifice surpass any challenge they may face. [04:30]

Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV): "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Reflection: What personal struggle are you facing today that you can lay at the foot of the cross, trusting in Jesus' ultimate sacrifice and love for you?

Day 3: Union Through the Holy Spirit

Communion symbolizes the union believers have with Christ, made possible through the Holy Spirit. This union is not just a remembrance of Jesus' death but an active participation in His life, inviting believers to experience His presence daily. Through the Holy Spirit, believers are drawn into a profound fellowship with Jesus, sharing in His life and spirit. This union is a source of strength and renewal, offering hope and joy in the midst of life's challenges. [07:17]

1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV): "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in the life of Jesus today, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen you in your daily walk?

Day 4: Surrendering Selfish Desires

The new covenant invites believers to surrender their selfish desires and ambitions in exchange for a deeper relationship with Christ. By doing so, they open themselves to the fullness of His love and purpose for their lives. This surrender is not a one-time event but a continual choice to let go of personal ambitions and embrace the transformative power of Jesus' love and grace. It is an invitation to empty oneself of all that hinders union with Christ and to choose the path of surrender and communion with Him. [11:45]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Reflection: What is one selfish desire or ambition you need to surrender today to deepen your relationship with Christ?

Day 5: Continual Choice of Union

The journey with Christ requires a daily choice to pursue union with Him. This involves examining oneself, letting go of personal preferences, and embracing the transformative power of His love and grace. Believers are called to continually choose this path of union, recognizing that it is a lifelong journey of growth and transformation. By choosing to walk in union with Christ, believers experience the fullness of His presence and the joy of a life lived in alignment with His will. [15:27]

Colossians 3:1-3 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Reflection: What daily habit can you incorporate into your life to help you continually choose union with Christ and align your life with His will?

Sermon Summary

In Matthew 26, Jesus introduces the concept of the new covenant through communion, emphasizing the significance of His body and blood. This new covenant is not merely about the remission of sins, as the term might suggest a temporary state, akin to cancer remission. Instead, it signifies complete forgiveness and justification through Jesus' sacrifice. This justification is not a temporary reprieve but a permanent state of being seen as righteous before God. The darkest moment in history, when Jesus was forsaken on the cross, underscores the gravity of this sacrifice. It was a time when the world was plunged into darkness, both literally and spiritually, as Jesus bore the weight of humanity's sins.

Reflecting on this, we must weigh our personal struggles against the immense sacrifice Jesus made. The period between Jesus' death and resurrection was a time of despair for His disciples, yet it paved the way for the ultimate triumph of His resurrection. This resurrection is a testament to the light that follows darkness, offering hope and renewal. Communion, therefore, is not just a remembrance of Jesus' death but a celebration of the union we have with Him through the Holy Spirit. This union is a profound fellowship, a sharing in the life and spirit of Jesus.

The act of communion is a declaration of our desire for complete oneness with Christ. It is not merely a ritual but a commitment to embrace Jesus fully, just as we consume the bread and wine. This new covenant is a binding agreement, signed in Jesus' blood, inviting us to surrender our selfish desires and ambitions in exchange for a deeper relationship with Him. The call is to empty ourselves of all that hinders this union and to continually choose this path of surrender and communion with Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Complete Forgiveness and Justification: The blood of Jesus offers more than remission; it provides complete forgiveness and justification. This means we are seen as righteous before God, not needing to revisit past sins with doubt. This assurance allows us to live in the freedom of God's grace. [02:16]
2. The Darkest Moment in History: Jesus' crucifixion was the darkest moment in history, where He bore the sins of the world. This event highlights the depth of His sacrifice and the profound love He has for us. It calls us to reflect on our struggles in light of His ultimate sacrifice. [04:30]
3. Union Through the Holy Spirit: Communion symbolizes our union with Christ, made possible through the Holy Spirit. This union is not just a remembrance but an active participation in the life of Jesus, inviting us to experience His presence daily. [07:17]
4. Surrendering Selfish Desires: The new covenant invites us to surrender our selfish desires and ambitions. By doing so, we open ourselves to a deeper relationship with Christ, embracing the fullness of His love and purpose for our lives. [11:45]
5. Continual Choice of Union: Our journey with Christ requires a daily choice to pursue union with Him. This involves examining ourselves, letting go of our preferences, and embracing the transformative power of His love and grace. [15:27]
** [15:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Introduction to the New Covenant
[01:14] - Misunderstanding Remission
[02:16] - Justification Through Jesus' Blood
[03:26] - The Darkest Day in History
[04:30] - Weighing Our Struggles
[05:15] - The Disciples' Despair
[06:05] - Resurrection and Hope
[07:04] - Communion and Union
[08:09] - Joy in Communion
[09:04] - Fellowship with Christ
[10:06] - Embracing Full Union
[11:08] - The New Covenant Agreement
[12:23] - Taking Jesus All the Way In
[13:14] - Union Through the Holy Spirit
[15:27] - Examining Ourselves

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Matthew 26:26-28
Romans 3:23-25
1 Corinthians 10:16-17

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Observation Questions:

In Matthew 26:26-28, what does Jesus say about the bread and the wine during the Last Supper? How does this relate to the concept of the new covenant? [00:44]
According to Romans 3:23-25, what does it mean to be justified by Jesus' blood? How does this differ from the idea of remission? [02:16]
In 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, what is the significance of the cup and the bread in relation to our union with Christ? How is this union described? [08:09]
The sermon mentions the darkest moment in history when Jesus was forsaken on the cross. How does this event highlight the depth of His sacrifice? [04:30]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of complete forgiveness and justification through Jesus' blood impact a believer's understanding of their relationship with God? [02:16]
Reflect on the period between Jesus' death and resurrection. How might the disciples' despair during this time relate to moments of darkness in a believer's life today? [05:15]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of surrendering selfish desires to embrace a deeper relationship with Christ. What might this surrender look like in practical terms for a believer? [11:45]
How does the act of communion serve as both a remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice and a celebration of our union with Him through the Holy Spirit? [07:17]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your personal struggles. How can viewing them in light of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice change your perspective? [04:30]
The sermon calls for a daily choice to pursue union with Christ. What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Him? [15:27]
Consider the idea of surrendering selfish desires. Identify one area of your life where you struggle with selfishness. What practical steps can you take to surrender this to Christ? [11:45]
Communion is described as a commitment to embrace Jesus fully. How can you make this commitment more meaningful in your life beyond the ritual itself? [09:41]
The sermon mentions the joy in communion through union with Christ. How can you cultivate a sense of joy and gratitude in your daily walk with Jesus? [08:36]
Reflect on the darkest moments in your life. How can the hope of Jesus' resurrection provide comfort and renewal during these times? [06:05]
The sermon invites believers to examine themselves in light of the new covenant. What areas of your life need examination and transformation to align more closely with Christ's teachings? [15:27]

Sermon Clips

And we should not treat our forgiveness as just a remission as a, you know, well let's see how you perform the next six months and we'll see if your sins are really forgiven. That's not the attitude with which we can approach Jesus, the forgiveness of our sins. [00:02:01]

The blood of Jesus is more than just remission, it is forgiveness into justification which is, I look at you as if you've always obeyed, I've looked at you as being totally righteous. That is the clarity with which we can stand before God with what the blood of God does for us. [00:02:56]

The darkest time in all of history for me there's no comparison there's no doubt about it was when Jesus hung on the cross and took the penalty of our sins so when we say we are justified by his blood, it's a reflection to the darkest time of all of history. [00:03:36]

And so I must weigh everything in my life all the dark ages in my life all the dark periods in my life all the afflictions and sufferings in my life on one side of the weighing balance is all of that and on the other side is the darkest time in all of history. [00:04:34]

Communion is reverent but with joy, rejoicing with trembling, and there's a joy in communion because we are sharing with Jesus now and it's not the physical act of communion, nothing to do with that but that's what our physical act is proclaiming to not only the Lord's death but a sharing of fellowship and a union with Jesus. [00:08:34]

Dear brothers and sisters, whereas we drink the cup and we eat the bread, he did the sacrifice, now he asks, will there be the union, and that's what we do when we're taking the bread and the cup in, we are saying Lord Jesus I want to be one with you. [00:09:28]

It's not just a great immense infinite gratitude for what Jesus did by justifying me that's wonderful for us to accept that and receive that that's one side of the coin but there's another side of the coin very active very joyous very happy to say Lord Jesus in view of all that you've done for me. [00:10:02]

He says often we have bodies, offer your selfish will that has constantly says that's what God says very clearly right in Romans. There's something that Bobby said, my biggest problem is not my suffering but my self-life, my biggest problem is not my suffering but my self-life that's the big eye, the big ego. [00:11:38]

And God says, that's what I want you to sign you give that up, and accept full union with Jesus. So that's what we're doing we're not tasting the bread and spitting it out, we're not tasting the cup and spitting it out we're taking him all the way in. [00:12:16]

All God is waiting for is for us to open up our house and say I want that complete union with you Lord I want to surrender all of my ambitions my desires my preferences, my preference for a pain-free life as we heard, all of my griefs Lord, all of them are done. [00:14:42]

I bring nothing I've emptied my hand of all of my desires preferences ambitions anything I want full union with you, my cup is completely empty I've emptied it of all the dregs of selfishness that I want and we have to make that choice over and over again every day. [00:15:08]

He's inviting you to union with Christ, communion, union with Christ, and he's got the paper out and he signed it in his blood and he's saying will you sign it by surrendering everything. [00:15:42]

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Embracing the New Covenant: Union Through Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Complete Forgiveness and Justification

Day 2: The Darkest Moment in History

Day 3: Union Through the Holy Spirit

Day 4: Surrendering Selfish Desires

Day 5: Continual Choice of Union

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing the New Covenant: Union Through Christ

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