October 4, 2020 Sunday
OLD AND NEW
OLD AND NEW
The pair of images at the top of the page compare the old Harbor Bridge to the proposed new Harbor Bridge, currently under construction. The first time I ever saw the old bridge was in the early 1960s, and I was greatly impressed. It was huge! And beautiful. Now it is old. The new one will be bigger and better. It will be more beautiful as well.
The second pair of images compares the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. The Old Covenant was based on the law, especially the moral law as it appears in the Ten Commandments. The New Covenant, however, is based on Love and the Scripture verse that represents it is John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
The Old Covenant was symbolized by the Tables of the Law, deposited within the Ark of the Covenant.
The New Covenant is symbolized by the Cross of Christ, where he died to save us, offering atonement for our sins.
Both bridges are beautiful. The new one will be better.
Both Covenants are of vital importance. The new one is better.
Do you remember those Bible chapters which tell of Jesus meeting in an upper room with His disciples, washing their feet, telling them to love one another, enjoying the Passover Meal with them, and establishing what we call “The Lord’s Supper” [also known as Communion or the Eucharist (Thanksgiving)]. After He gave thanks, He told them that (symbolically) they were drinking His blood, and He called it “My blood of the New Covenant.”
Rejoice in the New Covenant. It is all about God’s love for us and the wonderful blessings of experiencing salvation by grace through faith. The New Testament tells us that the Law (of the old Covenant) reveals our sins and leads us to Christ.
Rejoice in the Lord always! And again I say, Rejoice!
THERE IS A FOUNTAIN
William Cowper (1731-1800)
1772
There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in His day;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away:
Washed all my sins away,
Washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow’r,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are safe, to sin no more:
Are safe, to sin no more,
Are safe, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are safe, to sin no more.
E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die:
And shall be till I die,
And shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
When this poor, lisping, stamm’ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save:
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save;
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save.