How Do We Keep the New Covenant

The Role of Christ and the New Testament

The path to the New Covenant is through Christ, who is the fulfillment of the New Testament. In the Gospels, we find the essence of what Christ has asked of us. Only with Christ can we receive the Spirit of God, making us a vessel of His will.

Living Apart from the World

Like Christ, we are to not be a part of this world. This means staying out of military, political, and societal issues; instead, we should observe and contribute without taking a public stance. Our focus should be on Christ and His teachings.

The Eucharist as the Fulfillment of the Covenant

The 'Eucharist' is the fulfillment of the 'New and everlasting Covenant'. It is not about writing but doing. The Eucharist commemorates Christ's sacrifice and points to the fulfillment of God's promise to redeem mankind, bringing us from spiritual death to new life in Christ. The Books of the New Testament themselves do not redeem us; it is through faith and action that we gain salvation:

‘DO IT EUCHARIST IN MEMORY OF HIM’– Luke 22:19.

The Role of the Church and Our Responsibility

According to Colossians 1:24, the Church must fill in what is still lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, the Church. We are to carry each other's burdens as Christ commanded in Galatians 6:2.

Agape Love and Christ's Teachings

Jesus introduced the concept of agape love, which is charitable, sacrificial, and unconditional. He demonstrated this by washing His disciples' feet and by giving His body and blood for our salvation. He also asked us to perform these acts in remembrance of Him:

‘Jesus is the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes. It is to bring fruit. He will reward us according to our fruitfulness. We must be refined like silver and be faithful till the end to be saved.

The Significance of Blood and Life

Jesus, through His death and the shedding of His blood on the cross, gave us new life. This new life grafts us onto the Tree of Life, making us fruitful through Him. Those who devote themselves to God will undergo shaping and molding through suffering. Those baptized but not fruitful will be condemned, while fruitful branches will be pruned for increased fruitfulness.

Conclusion

By practicing the teachings of Christ and the New Testament, we can keep the New Covenant. This involves living separate from the world, remembering the Eucharist, and fulfilling our roles within the Church. Through love and sacrifice, we can be refined and rewarded for our faithfulness.