I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you—no man, woman, clan, or tribe—will turn away from the LORD our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit. “Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, ‘I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.’ This would lead to utter ruin! The LORD will never pardon such people. Instead his anger and jealousy will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will come down on them, and the LORD will erase their names from under heaven.” Deut. 29:18-20 NLT
God has always been a covenant making God. He deals with mankind through unbreakable deals, ultra strong contracts with no “out-clause” on His end. He has a covenant with the nation of Israel and He has a covenant with the world. His covenant with Israel is written down in Deuteronomy. His covenant with the world is written in the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. It is spelled out in the words of Jesus and Paul the apostle:
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Rom. 10:9-11 NLT
What a wonderful deal God has given to us! Who would not want it?
PART TWO OF THIS POST TOMORROW!
Reinventing the We'll 