Question 32. How is the grace of God manifested in the second covenant?

 

Question 32. How is the grace of God manifested in the second covenant?

Answer. The grace of God is manifested in the second covenant, in his free provision and offering to sinners of mediation, and of life and salvation by it; and by requiring faith as the condition of their entering into a relationship with Christ, the mediator; and by promising and giving the Holy Spirit to all his elect, he works faith in them, with all other saving graces, and enables them to do all holy obedience; which obedience is a true evidence of their faith and gratitude to God, or the way which God hath appointed for their salvation.

If we divide God's covenant into two for convenience, the covenant that appears in the Old Testament is called the first covenant, and the covenant that appears in the New Testament through Jesus Christ is called the second covenant.

Luke 22:15-16 “And he said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’”

There are five Passover foods. First, they slaughtered a lamb, smeared its blood on the doorposts, roasted the lamb, and ate it. The meaning of eating the Passover lamb is that they were saved from death. Second, they ate unleavened bread, remembering that they were God's holy people. Third, they ate bitter herbs, remembering the suffering in Egypt, meaning that they would no longer return to Egypt but would advance to Canaan. Fourth, they drank wine. They drank four cups. First, they drank the cup to symbolize that they were free from the suffering of Pharaoh (Satan), then they drank the cup to symbolize that they were free from the suffering of Egypt (the world), then they drank the cup to symbolize that they were free from the angel of death, and then they drank the cup to express gratitude for being saved and becoming God's people. And then they drank the wine to symbolize that they would go into Canaan and drink it.

They will not eat the Passover meal until the kingdom of God is established. The establishment of the kingdom of God means that Jesus died on the cross, was resurrected, and entered the hearts of the saints. Therefore, the Passover meal is eating and drinking the life of resurrection.

Luke 22:17-20 Then taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then 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 he took the cup after the supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

The bread and wine eaten in the Eucharist today symbolize the death and resurrection of Jesus on the cross. It is to remind believers who participate in the Eucharist that they are also united with the death and resurrection of the cross. This means that when believers are reborn by the Holy Spirit and receive resurrection life, and when the resurrected Jesus comes again and dwells in the believers’ hearts, they eat and drink with Ho Logos. Blood means life, and flesh symbolizes the resurrected body.

The blood and flesh that died on the cross have the meaning of atonement. Applying the blood of the sacrificial lamb to the doorposts means avoiding sin from death, and eating the flesh roasted in fire means recognizing that oneself has been baptized in fire and has died to the old self. However, for those who are united in the resurrection, the wine is the drink of eternal life, and the bread symbolizes the resurrected body.

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