How can Christians today ensure they honor God's covenant in their communities? Starting with the Text: Exodus 12:43 “And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘This is the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner may eat of it.’” • God established a clear boundary: only those inside the covenant family could take the Passover meal. • This boundary was not about favoritism; it protected the purity of worship and underscored the seriousness of belonging to God. Why This Matters for Christians Today • The New Covenant also has defining markers—faith in Christ expressed through baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:26). • Just as in Exodus, covenant boundaries remind believers who they are and Whose they are (1 Peter 2:9-10). Guarding the New Covenant Signs • Baptism—public entry into covenant life (Acts 2:41-42). • The Lord’s Supper—regular renewal and proclamation of the covenant (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). • Church leadership should ensure participants profess faith and walk in repentance, reflecting the “no foreigner” principle in a gospel-centered way. Cultivating a Covenant Culture in the Church • Membership that means something—shared confession, accountability, and care (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Loving discipline—restoring those who stray, preserving the witness of the body (Matthew 18:15-17). • Teaching sound doctrine—guarding against “foreign” ideas that dilute the gospel (Titus 2:1, 15). Living Set Apart in the World • Holiness without isolation—“come out from among them” yet shine as lights (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Philippians 2:15). • Hospitality with discernment—welcome neighbors while clearly presenting the terms of the covenant (Romans 12:13; Colossians 4:5-6). • Unity across backgrounds—anyone may enter by faith, but all must enter the same way (Galatians 3:26-28). Practical Takeaways for This Week • Examine your participation in the Lord’s Supper: approach with confessed sin and grateful faith. • Pray for church leaders as they guard baptismal and communion practices. • Refresh your grasp of core doctrine—read Ephesians 1–3 and note covenant blessings. • Model covenant faithfulness at home: family devotions, honest repentance, and forgiving one another (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Ephesians 4:32). • Invite a newer believer to coffee and share how to live distinctly yet graciously in a secular culture (1 Thessalonians 2:8). |
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