The Blessing of the New Covenant Is the Nearness of God -- Santosh Poonen -- December 17, 2023
http://rlcf.church River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The central message is that the true understanding of God's love is rooted in the 'fear of the Lord,' which is the beginning of wisdom. The speaker argues that this foundational fear allows one to properly understand the depth of God's love and the necessity of Christ's sacrifice. Furthermore, the New Covenant signifies a radical shift where God promises to be near to His people, unlike the distance maintained under the Old Covenant.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep His commandmentsLooking at the end of Ecclesiastes and Revelation, the ultimate conclusion for every person is to fear God, keep His commandments, and recognize that hidden things will be brought to judgment.
Why the fear of God is the beginning of wisdomHaving a foundation in the fear of God sets the proper boundaries of His love and helps us truly understand the wretchedness of sin and why Jesus had to die.Proverbs 9:10
The essence of the New Covenant is that God is nearComparing Mount Sinai where God was distant due to sin with Mount Zion in the New Covenant, God's goal is to clean our hearts so He can dwell inside us and be a near God.
The Nearness of God is our ultimate good in worshipAsaf realized in Psalm 73 that even when life is difficult and the ungodly seem prosperous, true worship means desiring nothing on earth besides God because His nearness is our good.
Looking past the rewards to the Blessings of God's presenceWhen reading the Beatitudes, believers often make the mistake of focusing only on the resulting rewards like the kingdom of heaven or comfort rather than valuing God's presence in the low condition itself.
God dwells with the contrite and lowly of spiritIsaiah 57 shows that the high and holy God lives in the highest heaven and also with the contrite and lowly to revive their hearts.Isaiah 57:14
Blessed are the tamed, the hungry, and the mercifulJust like a tamed wild horse or someone experiencing deep hunger and thirst, God draws near to those who submit to taming, create a vacuum for the Holy Spirit, and show mercy to others.
Blessed are the peacemakers and the persecutedGod is near to peacemakers and those who face insult and persecution, using trials not as things to escape immediately, but as the very environment where His nearness is experienced.
