I have a very important question: Are you under contract with God or do you have a covenant with Him? Does it matter?
You bet it does!
Contracts are powerful, legal instruments. For example: We are a quarter of the way into a collaborative effort with a California company to completely overhaul our online ministry. Several weeks ago, I signed a contract indicating our agreement to work together in this project.
If either party to this contract decides our agreement needs to be modified—or even nullified—it can be done, although painful and costly.
Note: I did not entered into a covenant with Caliber Media Group. As a matter of fact, I only have a covenant with two people: my wife and God. And, while both are covenants, they are different types of covenants.
When I married Dianne, we entered into a marriage covenant, “…for better or worse, for richer or poorer…until death do us part.”
Even though the presiding minister declared pronounced a clear warning to anyone who might tamper with our covenant—“Now what God has joined together, let no man separate!”—many do so anyway and suffer catastrophic consequences!
If you are willing to pay the price, you can alter both a contract and a marriage covenant. But such is not the case with God’s covenant. Hallelujah!
While God uses marriage as a symbol of His relationship with us, the parallel goes only so far before we must springboard into a deeper understanding of how God views our relationship. As people who are included in the life of Christ—you should recall what you have learned through LGI about being “in Christ”—we are participants in a blood covenant between God and Jesus.
There are two, initial aspects of this covenant that are significant: First, this covenant is between God and Jesus, not God and us. However, we are participants and beneficiaries of this covenant that God makes in Himself through the incarnate Jesus Christ. Second, this is a blood covenant, not a marriage covenant and certainly not a contract.
A blood covenant is sealed with blood and is made between equals. Therefore, even though God desired for us to be the beneficiaries of His covenantal heart, we are clearly not His equal. In order to resolve our inadequacy and His desire, He placed us in the crucified Christ long before we ever showed up (cf. Eph. 1:4; Rev. 13:8 (NKJV); Gal. 2:20).
A blood covenant is irrevocable and unalterable, sworn to with an oath from God. Let me quote Malcolm Smith, whose book I want you to purchase as it provides an incredible, systematic theology of the New Covenant in lay terms—“you in Christ and Christ in you.” Again, you know this through LGI, et al. Malcolm writes, “In the new covenant that God makes with us, He swears by Himself; He is the guarantee both of the human and divine side that the covenant shall be made and kept. This is the absolute certainty that we have of the covenant: It is made and guaranteed by God. It is as sure and unchangeable as God is.”
Now you see why the name of this ministry is “Lifetime Guarantee!”
I know it is unusual for us to feature other’s material, and is certainly not the norm to do in my letter to you. But you need to read Malcolm’s book. I believe when you do so, your soul will be more confident than ever of your place in the heart of God and His place in yours.
Further, I believe that with a close consideration of God’s covenant perspective you will return again to the resources and ministry placed within Lifetime Guarantee. This treasure that we minister at LGI is the Gospel of Jesus Christ framed within the unique style of delivery at LGI. It is our core belief that we must minister as Christ ministered: with simplicity and personal transparency. He told stories, He talked of His walk with His Father, and He spoke of the confidence we have through Him.
Before He made His exit, Jesus gave what He knew of His Father to His disciples to perpetuate in others, and He promised His Spirit to guide and empower them. The treasure is ours in which to revel and to share with others.
Bless you,
It is significant that your Bible is comprised of an Old and a New Covenant (or, Testament). You need to know about covenants, given they are how God thinks! Your understanding is part and parcel of how you should view life and living. Please consider the resource in my letter—something we don’t usually feature. Any extra you can provide along with your purchase—no matter the amount—will be a wonderful encouragement! We are advancing and want you to join us.
