Covenant Relationship #8

In Jesus’ earthly ministry He made it clear that He wanted a to be more in covenant relationship than ever before. He spoke in parables that the people would understand the importance of His word. Some folks believed but most rejected Him.
Matthew 22:14 (KJV)
For many are called, but few [are] chosen.
Today it is the same. Many people feel the call to repentance and don’t understand what they are feeling. Repentance doesn’t feel good. We feel sorry for our wrong doing and sometimes we don’t understand that feeling. A lot of people think they don’t need to repent because overall they are a good person. When in reality it’s more than that. We are all sinners. Even as a child we were sinners. We’ve all taken a piece of gum from someone and we knew we weren’t supposed to. It’s in our “Adam” nature. When Adam and Eve were thrown out of the garden of Eden because of breaking covenant with God everyone born after that were “shapen in iniquity”. Psalms 51:5. So everyone needs to cleansed from sin. This is why Jesus calls us to repentance in Mark 1:15.
Mark 1:15 Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Another scripture in John 7
37 ¶ In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
It begs the question what does the scripture say?

Jesus called us to repent and believe. He prayed for His disciples that we would believe the disciples that were preaching the gospel.
John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 ¶ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word (the disciples word);
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Matthew 15
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou artJohn the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Jesus gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven!
Jesus said
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
in other words, when the people ask Peter in Acts 2 the question, “What must we do to be saved?” When Peter replied “You must repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” it became a mandate in heaven. It wasn’t an accident that Peter said it. His words followed the old tabernacle plan in the wilderness. You must sacrifice on the alter (which is repentance) and you had to wash in the laver of water (baptism). Jesus also had already instructed us to repent and He led by example and was baptized.
He gave us specific instructions on how to baptize:
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
He said to baptize in the NAME! Peter just repeated what Jesus said!
John the Baptist declared “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand”. The word kingdom implies a king and the Jews themselves declared Him to be the “King of the Jews”. That wasn’t an accident either. It was completely the opposite, it was the Holy plan all along and it was executed perfectly! So why not be baptized in the name of the King of Kings?! Jesus! Acts 4:12 says “There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved!”

Why was Peter chosen? First of all his name meant “the rock”. Jesus changed his name a long time ago John 1:42 showing us he chose Peter from the beginning. So when Jesus said “Upon this “rock” I will build my church” He meant it! Peter was literally “The Rock”! Secondly when Jesus asked Peter “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” Jesus knew that Peter would obey the voice of the Lord to the letter. Jesus said “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” So when Peter stood up to preach in Acts 2 he declared the actual word of the Lord as he was moved on by the Holy Spirit!
This gets me excited! This is the Word that is alive! The Word will never lie and it will lead us and guide us into all truth! Thank You Jesus for the Living Word!

Your prayer today is: Lord, let the Word become alive in me! Let it lead me and guide me in all truth! Let me know it! Let me live it! Let it change me to forever to be in the image of Jesus Christ! Amen and Amen