How does 1 Corinthians 11:25 emphasize the significance of the New Covenant?

Reading 1 Corinthians 11:25

“In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’”

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Key Phrases That Highlight the New Covenant’s Significance

• “This cup” – a tangible, visible symbol handed to every believer

• “The new covenant” – a definitive, divinely initiated agreement replacing the Mosaic covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

• “In My blood” – the covenant ratified by the literal, sacrificial death of Christ (Hebrews 9:22)

• “Do this… in remembrance of Me” – continual, active participation that unites the church around a finished substitutionary work

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The New Covenant in Broader Biblical Context

• Jeremiah 31:31-34 – promises a covenant of internal transformation, forgiveness, and intimate knowledge of God

• Ezekiel 36:26-27 – foretells a new heart and the indwelling Spirit

• Luke 22:20 – Jesus initiates the covenant during the Passover meal, directly linking His blood to redemption

• Hebrews 8:6-13 – declares the new covenant “superior” and renders the old “obsolete,” emphasizing Christ as Mediator

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From Symbols to Reality

• Cup → perpetual memorial of the atoning sacrifice

• Blood → literal life poured out to secure eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12)

• Remembrance → confidential reminder that salvation rests on accomplished fact, not ongoing human effort

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Practical Implications for Believers Today

• Assurance – confidence that forgiveness is secured by Christ’s blood, not by personal merit

• Identity – incorporation into a covenant community defined by grace rather than law

• Worship – Communion becomes celebration, proclaiming the Lord’s death “until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

• Mission – sharing the message that a new, better covenant is available to all who trust in Jesus

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Summary Snapshot

1 Corinthians 11:25 presents the cup as a concrete proclamation that the promised new covenant has been inaugurated through the literal, once-for-all shedding of Christ’s blood. Every observance of the Lord’s Supper anchors believers in that reality, reminding the church of secured forgiveness, transformed hearts, and the certainty of Christ’s return.