NOVEMBER 1 All Things New and vocabulary

Matthew 26:26-30

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

“… ‘Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. “

http://bible.oremus.org/   

Covenant:  1. (noun) a solemn agreement, a legally binding agreement, a lawsuit for breach of agreement, mutual promises of God and Israelites.

                   2. (transitive verb) meaning to promise legally to do something.  [Encarta Dictionary]

Rev. Jason started with a very interesting analogy of learning to read and at the same time, adding to acquired vocabulary, by way of marveling at how his daughter gained a vocabulary without knowing it just reading the “Fancy Nancy” series for girls and then comparing it to his own reluctant practice of SAT words. 

Wouldn’t we all rather learn with ease? 

Or in the case of comprehending the meaning of Covenant, learning not just the definition, but becoming the Christian believer you want to be or develop into? 

Rev. Jason then explained how the word COVENANT appears in The Bible 290 times.  Covenant evolves over time in The Bible, starting out with Noah, and God’s promise not to flood the Earth again if Noah will believe and create the Ark to save man and animal.

For Abraham, the word covenant now comes to mean a blessing of the generations to follow.  For Moses, covenant becomes official- documents are drawn up, rules fashioned, obedience defined.  The Ten Commandments become the standard of being Christian.

And then Rev. Jason related covenant to communion and brought forward the ideas of how Christians today need to look at the importance of communion as a way of reinforcing covenant and Jesus.  Rev. Jason named two principals:  that communion is the symbol of God’s sacrifice of His only son and the forgiveness of sins.

The challenge for many of us is to make the promise to be a better Christian and to re-affirm our beliefs.  Communion is a gentle reminder of our commitments to God and should add to the vocabulary of faith, and not just word by word. 

I am, a Renewed Christian