Scriptures: Jeremiah 31 v 31-33; Hebrews 9 v 14-16.
God announced to Israel through the Prophet Jeremiah that
He was going to make a new covenant with the House of Israel because they had
broken the first covenant and were unable to keep it. The original covenant was
based on the Law of Moses and written on tablets of stone.
The Law could make no one a better person. It could
simply show man's inability to live up to God's standards. The Law proved that
man was sinful but could not change his sinful state, just punish him for it.
The New Covenant is based on the sacrifice of Jesus and
His shed Blood which is the only thing that removes sin - and it removes the
punishment of death too, completely.
The sin that God will judge us on, on the Day of Judgment
is found in John 3 v 18 - "But he that believeth on Him (Jesus) is not
condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he has not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
You will not be asked how many people you led to Jesus;
how big your Church is or how many missionaries you sponsored; you will be
asked by God the Father, "Do you believe in My Son Jesus?" If you
answer Yes, God will turn to Jesus and ask, "Is his name in the Book of
Life?" And if Jesus answers, "I never knew you." End of discussion.
So the New Covenant is about the grace, mercy and
forgiveness of God upon the whole human race. Those who accept this gracious
amnesty have all sins forgiven and their names written in the Book of Life.
Those that don't, don't.
The New Covenant is also called a Testament. A Testament
is a Will in which a person or persons will inherit when the Testator has died.
God's Testament was made valid when God the Son died. We need to know what we
have inherited.
If you were named a beneficiary when your billionaire
Father died, would you neglect to read the will? Wouldn't you be keen to pore
over every clause to make sure you did not miss that which was due to you? Well, if you want to know what you inherited
when Jesus died, you need to thoroughly read and understand the Will.
Read the New Testament! Its your complete inheritance.
The Testator died to make it valid for all the beneficiaries to receive their
inheritance. There are many rewards and some terms and conditions that apply.
All those who believe in Jesus are born again, which is your right to inherit
everything God has for you.
The terms and conditions of the Old Testament have been
cancelled and made null and void. There are many who are foolishly trying to
fulfil those terms and will one day find that it counted for nothing. All these
neglected to believe in Jesus the Son of God. He does not know them either. The
entitlement to inherit is based on your relationship to the Testator. No
personal relationship, no mention in the will.
How many of you expect to inherit from Bill Gates one
day? Not many! This is because he does not know you. Your name is not on his
list of contacts. You are not a relative or close friend. He never knew you!
So forget your human rights and look at your divine
rights. Read the will and find out how rich you are on Earth and much more when
you get to Heaven.