THE COVENANT BASED FIRMLY ON CHRIST
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Priceless Covenant
a) This covenant is the constitution of the church of Christ. We see it as a uniting a reconciling covenant whose author and mediator is Christ.
Ephesians 2:14-17, 22
“For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us. He abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances. He did this to make in himself one new man out of two, so making peace so that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. He came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to them that were nigh... In whom you also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”
2. The Covenant Based Firmly On Christ
Ephesians 2:20
"You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."
a) Christ, whom Paul previously called "the head over all things to the church" (Ephesians 1:22-23), is now called the "chief corner stone" in the church's foundation (Ephesians 2:20). The cornerstone is the stone from which all measurements are taken. Once laid true, it becomes the standard for all the rest of the structure. Christ's covenant is the standard for his church, because the covenant itself is based on Christ. A church is only as true as it is faithful to that standard.
b) Christ is mentioned at least eleven times in Ephesians 2:
i) Made alive together because of Christ (v5).
ii) Seated in the heavenly places in Christ (v6).
iii) God shows his rich grace toward us in Christ (verse 7).
vi) God’s workmanship created in Christ (verse 10).
v) At one time separate from Christ (verse 12).
vi) Brought near to God by Christ (verse 13).
vii) In his flesh Christ abolished the Law (verse 15).
viii) Blood of Christ makes peace, reconciles us to God (verses 13-16).
ix) Through Christ we have our access to God in one Spirit (verse 12).
x) Christ is the chief cornerstone on which we are built (verse 20).
xi) Obviously everything the new covenant achieves is based upon Christ. Without Christ and his cross there would be no priceless covenant. The new covenant does what the former covenants could not do, because there's something special and powerful in the new covenant that was only promised in the old. It is the cross of Christ.
The End ...
1. The Priceless Covenanta) This covenant is the constitution of the church of Christ. We see it as a uniting a reconciling covenant whose author and mediator is Christ.
Ephesians 2:14-17, 22
“For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us. He abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances. He did this to make in himself one new man out of two, so making peace so that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. He came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to them that were nigh... In whom you also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”
2. The Covenant Based Firmly On Christ
Ephesians 2:20
"You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."
a) Christ, whom Paul previously called "the head over all things to the church" (Ephesians 1:22-23), is now called the "chief corner stone" in the church's foundation (Ephesians 2:20). The cornerstone is the stone from which all measurements are taken. Once laid true, it becomes the standard for all the rest of the structure. Christ's covenant is the standard for his church, because the covenant itself is based on Christ. A church is only as true as it is faithful to that standard.
b) Christ is mentioned at least eleven times in Ephesians 2:
i) Made alive together because of Christ (v5).
ii) Seated in the heavenly places in Christ (v6).
iii) God shows his rich grace toward us in Christ (verse 7).
vi) God’s workmanship created in Christ (verse 10).
v) At one time separate from Christ (verse 12).
vi) Brought near to God by Christ (verse 13).
vii) In his flesh Christ abolished the Law (verse 15).
viii) Blood of Christ makes peace, reconciles us to God (verses 13-16).
ix) Through Christ we have our access to God in one Spirit (verse 12).
x) Christ is the chief cornerstone on which we are built (verse 20).
xi) Obviously everything the new covenant achieves is based upon Christ. Without Christ and his cross there would be no priceless covenant. The new covenant does what the former covenants could not do, because there's something special and powerful in the new covenant that was only promised in the old. It is the cross of Christ.
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