March 4, 2007am     Something Old and Something New    Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

How many new and improved items have you seen that were not new and improved? A new and improved automobile would run on air or water and never need to be refilled.  A new and improved child would never cause you any problems and would always say and do the right things.  A new and improved pastor would always dress appropriately and be all things to all people.  A new and improved church would be perfectly suited for everyone including the Lord.   The new and improved covenant between God and his people was really new and improved.  This is God’s promise to his people and the people’s response to who God is. 

Something Old:  The old promise was originally given to Abram and his descendants.  But the new covenant was given through Jesus to his followers. 

Genesis 15:1 (NIV) After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:  "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." 2 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir." 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." 5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 7 He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it." 8 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?" 9 So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." 10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.

18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates —

1.      The making of the old covenant. 

2.      God’s Promise to Abram.  I will give this land to your ancestors who will be an innumerable multitude. 

3.      Abram’s response.  He believed and prepared the sacrifices that would be the seal of the promise.  He paid the price and God accepted his sacrifice. 

4.      How can you know if it is true?  He had to believe and wait on the Lord. 

5.      God walked through the middle of the sacrifices showing His acceptance. 

The making of the New and Improved covenant.

1Cor 11:23 (NIV) For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."

25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

1. Jesus gave the new covenant to his disciples on the night he was betrayed and denied. 

2. The new covenant was written with blood of the lamb of God (Jesus)  not the blood of animals.

3. The new covenant was given to all who believe not just to Abram’s decendants.

4. The new covenant was that those who would believe would inherit the new land called heaven.

5. The new covenant was that God walked among us.  He was here and is now here in the Spirit living in believers. 

6. The new covenant was accepted by his disciples and they proclaimed it to others.  Jesus came, he died for us, and he rose from the dead to give hope to all who believe. 

7. Have you accepted God’s new covenant?  Have you believed?  Then you proclaim it today as you take this Holy Communion in Remembrance of Him who walked among us and sacrificed his life so that we may live.