The New Covenant

Our attention has been on the Holy Cross this week. Just a few days ago we were blessed to gaze upon the Cross of Christ, hear the story of His crucifixion, and hope for a better future with Him in heaven. We cannot ignore that everything that happened on the Cross was new.

The Cross of Christ was not, as some in Protestant circles believe, the action required in the Old Testament Law. Christ was not crucified to obey the Law. He was crucified for the New Covenant. This is the reminder from Saint Paul in today’s passage from Galatians.

Brethren, I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose. O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? Did you experience so many things in vain? — if it really is in vain. Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Thus Abraham “believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

Galatians 2:21; 3:1 – 7

Too many people live as if God is always angry at His people for disobeying Him. Too many people believe that God demands ‘flesh’ for our sins. His death on the Cross was an act of love, mercy and salvation. It wasn’t an act of vengeance.

I say vengeance because if you believe He was crucified because the Law demanded death, then His death on the Cross was not an act of love. On the other hand, if you understand God’s love is always used to save us, then His death on the Cross was something new.

In the Upper Room Christ said, “And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.” (Mark 14.24) If His blood is the New Covenant, then His Cross must also be new. It cannot be the required death sacrifice of the Old Testament.

Holy Communion and the blessing for us to be united with God in our baptism, chrismation and the Holy Sacraments, is the New Covenant that God had prepared His people for long before His Incarnation. (See Jeremiah 31.31-34)

Take up your cross this week with the reminder that Christ’s Cross was an act of love not obedience. His Cross was the new covenant with us, so that we could be His children and live with Him, united to Him in heaven.

Stop being afraid of God and start loving God. Start experiencing His actions and commandments as acts of love, mercy and salvation, rather than acts of vengeance and punishment. Vengeance and punishment are not love. The Cross is love. The Cross is new.