The Everlasting Covenant II

God Promises to Change his People's Hearts 

Ezekiel 36: 22-32 NIV

“Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name,which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

“‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!

God Ransoms His People with his Son's Blood

Luke 22: 19, 20 NIV

     And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
     In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Pardoned and Given New Hearts and New Spirits, 

God's People Draw Near to Him

Hebrews 12: 18-24 NIV

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn,whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Epilogue

Living Like the Salt and Light of the World

When sinning one cannot draw near God. Only when one realizes and get remorseful of his/her sins can anyone gets mercy. At this quick moment he/she gets reconciled with God, for the Lord God has forgiven his/her sins and will remember them no more.

What comes next is the cleansing of one's thoughts, behavior and actions, which gets impetus from the gospel - "...the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes." [Romans 1:16]

The Spirit of God, sent by God, comes to dwell in you to teach and seal you with all truth. This is the manifestation of God's power and faithfulness to finish what he has began in you.

Now, one can say he/she experiences God daily. He/she is now living the life modeled by Jesus - fulfilling the latter's wish that he/she be the light - one of the lights that shine on the world.

Indeed, it's God's glory to make you one.