Unlocking the New Covenant Through Redemptive Revelation
Summary
In our ongoing series on "Covenant Thinking," we delve deeper into understanding the New Covenant and its implications for our lives. The Bible is not just a historical record; it is the outline of God's redemptive plan for humanity. This plan is advanced through covenants, which are God's preferred method of operation. A covenant is a binding agreement between two or more parties, involving promises, stipulations, privileges, and responsibilities. It is essential to understand that God's covenants are unbreakable bonds that establish relationship and commitment.
The New Covenant, established through Jesus Christ, is a covenant of grace, favor, power, and anointing. It is vital for us to educate ourselves on this covenant to experience its full benefits. However, it is possible to be a believer and still not live in the fullness of this covenant. This is due to a lack of knowledge and agreement with the covenant's terms. God requires our agreement to work in our lives, and without it, we cannot activate the covenant's promises.
The key to unlocking the covenant's benefits is redemptive revelation, which is understanding how God sees the world through the lens of redemption. When we view life through redemptive eyes, we see God's original plan for us, which is to live without shame, fear, or guilt. Redemptive revelation changes how we face life's challenges and aligns us with God's intentions.
Jesus Christ is the express image of God, revealing God's character and intentions for us. Everything God wanted to do in us, He did through Christ. The life of Jesus is a blueprint for what God wants to accomplish in and through us. The mystery of the New Covenant is the gospel about Jesus Christ, and God has hidden everything we need in Him. To access these hidden treasures, we need revelation, which comes from spending time with Jesus and meditating on His word.
In summary, to walk in the fullness of the New Covenant, we must develop covenant thinking, which is shaped by redemptive revelation. This involves seeing life through the lens of redemption, understanding God's mind and heart, and aligning ourselves with His original plan for us. We must also spend time gazing into the face of Jesus, allowing Him to express the heart of God to us.
Key Takeaways:
- The New Covenant is a binding agreement that requires our active agreement to unlock its full benefits. Without understanding and agreeing to the terms of the covenant, we risk living below our God-given potential and missing out on the blessings intended for us. ([13:05])
- Redemptive revelation is the lens through which God views the world, and it is essential for us to adopt this perspective to see life as God does. By training ourselves to see everything through the blood of Jesus, we can face life's challenges with a godly perspective and overcome them with faith. ([28:35])
- Jesus Christ is the express image of God, and through His life, death, and resurrection, He has revealed God's character and intentions for humanity. To truly know God, we must spend time with His Son and meditate on His word, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal the depths of God's love and plan for us. ([50:11])
- The concept of vision in the Bible is not about building projects or personal ambitions; it is about having a redemptive revelation of God. Without this vision, we are left exposed and vulnerable in life. Understanding vision as redemptive revelation empowers us to walk in God's purpose and protection. ([22:58])
- Our discernment must be sharpened to distinguish between what is of God and what is not. In a world filled with distractions and false representations of God, it is crucial to develop the ability to discern God's voice and character through a personal relationship with Jesus and knowledge of His word. ([01:05:14])
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hosea 4:6 (KJV) - "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
2. Proverbs 29:18 (AMP) - "Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]—blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he."
3. Hebrews 1:1-3 (NLT) - "Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son, he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Hosea 4:6, what is the consequence of lacking knowledge about God’s covenant? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on understanding the New Covenant? [06:06]
2. In Proverbs 29:18, what does the term "vision" mean, and how does it affect the people? How does this concept of vision align with the idea of redemptive revelation discussed in the sermon? [22:21]
3. Hebrews 1:1-3 describes Jesus as the "express image" of God. What does this phrase mean, and how does it relate to understanding God's character and intentions for us? [50:11]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the lack of knowledge about the New Covenant lead to believers living below their God-given potential, as mentioned in the sermon? [06:46]
2. What does it mean to see life through the lens of redemptive revelation, and how can this perspective change the way we face life's challenges? [28:35]
3. How does spending time with Jesus and meditating on His word help us to understand and activate the promises of the New Covenant in our lives? [55:47]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current understanding of the New Covenant. What steps can you take to deepen your knowledge and agreement with its terms to unlock its full benefits? [06:46]
2. Think about a recent challenge you faced. How might viewing it through the lens of redemptive revelation have changed your perspective and response? [28:35]
3. Jesus is described as the express image of God. How can you spend more time with Jesus this week to better understand God's character and intentions for you? [50:11]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of having a redemptive revelation of God. What practical steps can you take to develop this vision in your daily life? [22:21]
5. Discernment is crucial in distinguishing what is of God and what is not. How can you sharpen your discernment to better recognize God's voice and character in your life? [01:05:14]
6. The sermon mentioned that many people mix elements of the old covenant with the new. How can you ensure that your understanding and practice of the New Covenant is aligned with what God has defined? [12:27]
7. Consider the distractions in your life that prevent you from spending time with Jesus. What specific actions can you take this week to minimize these distractions and focus more on meditating on His word? [55:47]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Covenant of Grace
The New Covenant is a divine promise of grace that requires our active participation to fully experience its blessings. It is not enough to simply believe; one must also understand and agree to the terms of this covenant. This agreement involves recognizing that the covenant is a binding relationship with God, filled with promises and responsibilities. By actively engaging with the covenant, believers can unlock a life that aligns with God's intentions, living up to their God-given potential and accessing the blessings that are rightfully theirs. The New Covenant is an invitation to a transformative relationship with God, one that is sustained by grace and marked by a mutual commitment to uphold the covenant's terms [13:05].
Hebrews 8:10 (ESV)
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Reflection: How can you actively engage with the terms of the New Covenant today to better align your life with God's intentions?
Day 2: Seeing Through Redemptive Revelation
Redemptive revelation is the transformative understanding of how God views the world, which is through the lens of redemption. This perspective allows believers to see beyond their current circumstances and recognize God's overarching plan for restoration and wholeness. By adopting this viewpoint, challenges are met with faith and resilience, as one understands that they are part of a larger redemptive story. This revelation is crucial for living a life that reflects God's original design, free from the bondage of shame, fear, and guilt. It is through the blood of Jesus that believers can see the world as redeemed and are empowered to overcome life's obstacles with a godly perspective [28:35].
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
Reflection: In what ways can you adopt a redemptive perspective today to transform how you face life's challenges?
Day 3: Knowing God Through Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the perfect representation of God's character and intentions for humanity. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has revealed the heart of God and His plan for redemption. To truly know God, it is essential to spend time with Jesus, meditate on His word, and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the depths of God's love and purpose. This intimate relationship with Jesus is the key to understanding the mystery of the New Covenant and accessing the hidden treasures that God has placed in Him for us. It is through Christ that believers can experience the fullness of God's character and intentions [50:11].
Colossians 1:15-16 (ESV)
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your relationship with Jesus and gain a greater understanding of God's character?
Day 4: Vision as Redemptive Revelation
Biblical vision is not about personal ambitions or projects; it is about having a redemptive revelation of God. This vision provides clarity and purpose, guiding believers to walk in God's protection and purpose. Without this vision, one is vulnerable to life's uncertainties and may stray from the path God has set. Understanding vision as redemptive revelation equips believers with the insight needed to navigate life's journey in alignment with God's redemptive plan. It is a vision that transcends earthly goals and focuses on the eternal impact of God's kingdom [22:58].
Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)
"Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law."
Reflection: How does your current vision for life reflect a redemptive revelation of God, and what changes might you need to make to align it with His purpose?
Day 5: Discerning God's Voice and Character
In a world filled with distractions and false representations of God, it is crucial for believers to sharpen their discernment. This discernment allows one to distinguish between God's voice and the noise of the world. Developing a personal relationship with Jesus and immersing oneself in His word are foundational practices for cultivating discernment. Through these spiritual disciplines, believers can recognize God's character and follow His guidance, avoiding the pitfalls of deception and remaining steadfast in their faith journey [01:05:14].
1 John 4:1 (ESV)
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."
Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to enhance your discernment and ability to recognize God's voice amidst the world's distractions?
Quotes
"God hid everything that we would ever need in Christ. He is not hiding things from us but he is hiding things for us and the only way that we can receive them is by revelation." [44:00] ()
"God sent Jesus for one reason and that was to reveal the new covenant. The revelation of Christ is the revelation of the new covenant." [45:16] ()
"Jesus is the express image of God. His life expressed God's image, his life expressed God's nature." [47:32] ()
"Everything that God wanted to do in you or for you, he did in Jesus Christ. Now what he did in Christ was not for Christ himself, he was working in Christ, but he was working on you." [41:27] ()
"Redemptive revelation is how God sees the world. If you want to see life the way God sees life, you got to have redemptive revelation because it is through the lens of redemption that God sees the world." [24:20] ()
"Redemptive revelation helps us to understand the mind of God. God expressed what he was thinking through redemption." [34:59] ()
"Redemptive revelation is understanding the heart of God. It's understanding his intentions. 'I know the plans that I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" [36:26] ()
"It is possible to be saved and never experience the fullness of the covenant. It is not automatic; you've got to express your faith, step out in faith, to enact this covenant in your life." [17:03] ()
"Covenant establishes relationship and commitment. God is concerned about re-establishing the relationship with him and his creation, him and mankind." [08:55] ()
"God cannot work unless we come into agreement with him. Anything that you see God doing, believe that somebody, some man or woman somewhere, came into agreement with God." [11:46] ()
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?